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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's critics are fuming after the Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion fund that could compensate the president's allies who say they were unfairly targeted by the federal government including those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.It was brazen enough, they say, when Trump used presidential powers to pardon or commute sentences of some 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants on the first day of his second term ‒ before going on to issue numerous pardons to wealthy and well-connected people accused of fraud or other white collar offenses.But now the Justice Department, led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the president's onetime personal attorney, is planning to use taxpayer money to pay "victims of lawfare and weaponization," which could include Jan. 6 rioters and other Trump allies who say they were wronged under Democratic administrations.Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, slammed the arrangement as "pure theft of public funds" as he questioned Blanche at a May 19 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing."Rewarding individuals that committed crimes is obscene," Van Hollen said. "Every American can see through this illegal, corrupt, self-dealing scheme."Trump says DOJ fund will 'reimburse' mistreated peopleThe fund follows years of accusations from Republicans that the Biden and Obama administrations "weaponized" the Justice Department to go after Trump, his companies and his supporters.Blanche announced the fund May 18 as part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit that Trump and his family brought against the Internal Revenue Service seeking $10 billion in damages over the president's leaked tax returns. The Trump family agreed to voluntarily drop the lawsuit ‒ meaning a federal judge won't rule on the merits of the suit ‒ in exchange for the creation of the fund.Trump told reporters on May 18 he knows "very little" about the fund but said it's been "very well received.""This is reimbursing people that were horribly treated ‒ horribly treated," Trump said when asked by a reporter about dollars potentially going to Jan. 6 defendants. "They've been weaponized. They've been in some cases imprisoned wrongly. They paid legal fees that they didn't have. They've gone bankrupt. Their lives have been destroyed. And they turned out to be right. It was a terrible period of time in the history of our country."The agreement with IRS also includes a guarantee that the tax agency will no longer pursue any claims over tax liabilities it may have against Trump, his family members and his companiesBlanche defended the "anti-weaponization" fund before incensed Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee, stressing that recipients are "not limited to Republicans" and "not limited to the Biden weaponization." Nor will they be limited to Jan. 6 defendants, he added."Anybody in this country is eligible to apply if they believe they are a victim of weaponization," Blanche said when pressed by Van Hollen whether Jan. 6 defendants convicted of assaulting police officers will be eligible.Blanche to appoint committee that will control fundA five-person committee ‒ with each member appointed by Blanche ‒ will be in charge of deciding which complainants are rewarded money from the fund, according to the Justice Department. A bullet-point agreement signed by Blanche stipulates that after the funds are allocated the federal government "has no liability" for the potential misuse of the money by those who receive it.Blanche acknowledged the new fund is "unusual" but he said it's "not unprecedented," pointing to the Obama administration's 2011 settlement with Native American farmers who sued the Department of Agriculture in Keepseagle v. Vilsack alleging decades of discrimination in accessing federal grants.In that settlement ‒ which, in contrast, was approved by a federal judge ‒ the Justice Department made $760 million available to redress farmers' claims of discrimination.Vice President JD Vance, addressing reporters at a White House press briefing, wouldn't rule out dollars going to Jan. 6 defendants, saying the committee will review individuals applying for funds on a "case-by-case basis.""Let's say hypothetically, a person is accused of doing something that they never actually did, that they got a 'kangaroo court.' They had a judge who mistreated them. I think we should look at those things case by case," Vance said. "We're not making commitments to give anybody money."'A slush fund' to enrich Trump's friends, Democrats sayVance said the fund is "about compensating Americans for the lawfare we saw under the previous administration.""Anybody can apply for it," Vance said, noting that Trump has pardoned some Democrats as well. "I mean, if Hunter Biden wants to apply for this particularly fund, he is welcome to."Democrats, meanwhile, signaled plans to seize on the "anti-weaponization fund" ahead of the 2026 midterm elections as they hammer Trump and Republicans over affordability concerns and rising gas prices."Instead of helping Americans get by, President Trump is literally using their tax dollars to set up a slush fund and enrich his friends," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said. "Let's be clear: What we're talking about is nothing short of a sitting president of the United States looting from the Treasury for his own gain."Contributing: Josh Meyer of USA TODAYReach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
