A lawsuit against the Trump administration’s planned $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” will keep moving forward, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, after officials refused to confirm in writing that the fund is dead.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies to Congress on June 2 in Washington, D.C.
Judge Leonie M. Brinkema issued a court filing Wednesday that sets out further deadlines in the case, after she had previously suggested she could end the litigation if the Trump administration confirmed they wouldn’t put the fund back in place.
The Justice Department established a $1.776 billion fund for those who feel the justice system was “weaponized” against them as part of President Donald Trump’s settlement with the IRS, but it isn’t in effect, as Brinkema blocked the fund from moving forward and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has claimed the plan is defunct.
Brinkema extended her order blocking the fund earlier this month, but suggested she could dismiss the case entirely if the Trump administration said in writing under penalty of perjury that it was officially dead—which they refused to do, claiming it was “unnecessary.”
