Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Tuesday that he is “not a fan” of the Justice Department’s newly announced “anti-weaponization” fund, the latest sign of GOP discomfort over a pool of money that critics are calling a “slush fund” for President Donald Trump’s political allies.In rolling out the fund on Monday, the Justice Department stated there are no “partisan requirements” to be awarded some of the $1.776 billion set aside for victims of “weaponization and lawfare.” But Democrats have accused the DOJ of attempting to protect those in Trump’s orbit who have been prosecuted by the federal government. The funds could also extend to the hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants convicted and subsequently pardoned by Trump for their actions in the Capitol riot.“I’m not sure exactly how they intend to use it,” Thune told reporters on Tuesday, “but yeah, I don’t see a purpose for that.”
The way the Justice Department is tapping the funds, from an unlimited account Congress has long set aside to settle claims against the federal government, has also drawn scrutiny. Thune told reporters that he expects the arrangement will get a “full vetting” from appropriators later this year.
“My assumption is that based on some of the blowback that’s come since this was announced, that there would be a significant amount of attention paid to it,” Thune said.
