A federal judge in Virginia temporarily barred the Trump administration from transferring money into a secretive, loosely controlled $1.8bn Anti-Weaponization Fund while a legal challenge continues. The order also prevents further steps in creating or operating the fund to preserve the status quo and avoid irreversible disbursement. The fund was announced to resolve a $10bn lawsuit over the leak of Trump’s tax returns. The government faced accusations after it did not take preliminary steps to defend itself. Claims can be submitted by anyone alleging government weaponization, and the fund is governed by commissioners appointed by the attorney general and congressional leadership, all of whom can be fired by Trump. The fund need not disclose payments or reasons, drawing criticism as a slush fund.
"A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the Trump administration from transferring any money into a secretive and loosely controlled $1.8bn fund while a legal challenge proceeds. The order from US district judge Leonie Brinkema on Friday bars the government from taking other further action in the creation or operation of the fund while legal arguments in a case challenging the fund continue. The order is intended to ensure no funds are irreversibly disbursed from the Anti-Weaponization Fund, Brinkema wrote."
"The Trump administration announced it was creating the $1.776bn fund last week in order to resolve a $10bn lawsuit filed by Donald Trump and his sons over the leak of Trump's tax returns. The government did not take preliminary steps to try to defend itself in the lawsuit, prompting accusations of improper collusion and corruption. The government has said that anyone who is a victim of government weaponization can submit a claim to the fund, which will be controlled by four commissioners appointed by the US attorney general and a fifth appointed in consultation with congressional leadership."
"All the commissioners can be fired by Trump for any reason. There are no restrictions on who can apply for money from the fund, and even Republicans have expressed outrage that January 6 rioters who assaulted police officers could receive a payout. The fund also does not have to disclose how much it paid to whom and its reasons for doing so, prompting criticism that it is essentially a slush fund."
"The ruling from Brinkema, a Bill Clinton appointee, came in a lawsuit filed by the watchdog group Democracy Forward seeking to block the fund. The ruling is intended to preserve the status quo and was necessary after the government declined to provide assurances that no funds would be transferred or paid before 19 June to allow for adequate briefing in the case. We are pleased that the court granted our request to ensure the administration does not distribute taxpayer funds."
#anti-weaponization-fund #federal-court-injunction #trump-tax-return-lawsuit #government-transparency #political-accountability
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