A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the creation of a $1.776 billion settlement fund intended to compensate individuals who believe they were targeted by a weaponized government.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, issued the order preventing the government from establishing the fund or distributing any payouts while a legal challenge proceeds. Brinkema, who was nominated to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, scheduled a June 12 hearing to determine whether to extend the block.
The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was created last week to resolve a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service over the unauthorized release of his tax returns. Following its announcement, the initiative drew scrutiny from both political parties. Some Republican lawmakers questioned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding eligibility requirements, specifically asking whether individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot would qualify for compensation.
To date, no funds have been distributed and no claims have been accepted. The Justice Department has not yet formed the five-member commission tasked with establishing the specific criteria for payouts.
The lawsuit challenging the fund was filed by attorneys from the advocacy group Democracy Forward. The federal suit seeks to permanently halt the program, alleging that the fund lacks a proper legal basis and sufficient administrative accountability.
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