President Donald Trump's administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people who say they were victims of government "weaponization," raising questions about whom among his allies and supporters – including those who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6 – might get payouts from taxpayers, as well as what kind of influence Trump will wield over the fund.
READ MORE: Blanche faces senators on new Trump 'weaponization' fund, Epstein, budget cuts
The Justice Department's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," a nod to the country's founding year, is part of a settlement with Trump to end a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leaking of his tax returns, which occurred during his own presidency.
The Trump administration has compared it to a settlement dating back to former President Barack Obama's administration, claiming the U.S. government has "done this in the past."
"This was done during the Obama administration, something almost identical in structure," said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday. "It is true that this is unusual. That is true, but it is not unprecedented."
