The political fallout over President Donald Trump‘s settlement fund is spreading on Capitol Hill despite the Department of Justice‘s assurances that “lawfare” victims will no longer receive payouts from the federal government.Partisan fighting over the fund is seeping into delicate Senate negotiations to keep the government open past the fall. Democrats want a vote to block its creation, something Republicans are rejecting as a “poison pill.” In the House, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) is gathering signatures to force a similar vote outside of the regular appropriations process.The DOJ shelved the fund last week, helping calm the nerves of Republicans upset over its expected payouts to Jan. 6 defendants. And for a moment, it seemed as though Republicans successfully moved past the controversy. The House passed an immigration enforcement bill that had been derailed by the fund on Tuesday, sending the bill to Trump’s desk.
Yet Democrats refuse to take the administration at its word and want to prevent Trump from resurrecting it at a later date. They’re joined by a handful of Republicans who could soon end-run GOP leadership’s control of the House floor.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), an independent who caucuses with the Republicans, told the Washington Examiner he would support Fitzpatrick’s petition to block the fund, while Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he’s “inclined” to as well. It takes just a bare majority to bring the petition to the floor, and all Democrats are expected to join Fitzpatrick.
