Todd Blanche Does Not Rule Out Jan. 6 Rioters Seeking Payments From $1.8B Anti Weaponization Fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not rule out the possibility that people who carried out violence during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol could seek payments from the Justice Department’s new $1.776 billion Anti Weaponization Fund.
Blanche made the comments Tuesday during a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, where lawmakers questioned him about the fund, which the Justice Department announced Monday as part of a resolution tied to President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.
The Justice Department says the fund is meant to compensate people who believe they were targeted through “weaponization and lawfare.”
Pressed on whether people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6 would be eligible, Blanche said all people can apply if “they believe they were a victim of weaponization.”
“What I will commit to is making sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs, and that includes setting guidelines as you’re describing,” Blanche told Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat.
Commission Will Decide Who Qualifies For Payments
The fund will be overseen by a five member commission appointed by the attorney general. The commission will decide who qualifies for compensation and what guidelines will be used to review claims.
Blanche said the fund is not limited to Republicans, Democrats or Jan. 6 defendants. He also said Hunter Biden, who faced gun and tax prosecutions during his father’s administration, could apply.
“It’s not limited to Republicans. It’s not limited to Democrats. It’s not limited to January 6th defendants. It’s limited only by the term weaponization,” Blanche told lawmakers, though the administration has not clearly defined how “weaponization” will be applied.
Democrats Say Fund Could Reward People Convicted After Jan. 6
Democrats sharply criticized the fund, arguing that it could reward Trump supporters and others who were investigated, charged or convicted after Jan. 6.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations subcommittee, called the fund a “pure theft of public funds.”
“Rewarding individuals who committed crimes is obscene,” Van Hollen said. “Every American can see through this illegal, corrupt, self dealing scheme.”
The fund comes as the Trump administration has continued to argue that the Justice Department under the Biden administration was used against Trump and his allies. Merrick Garland, who served as attorney general under Biden, has denied allegations of politicization and said decisions were based on facts, evidence and the law.
Fund Was Created After Trump Dropped IRS Lawsuit
The Anti Weaponization Fund was announced after Trump moved to dismiss his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax records. Trump had sued the IRS, Treasury Department and others, claiming the leak caused reputational and financial harm.
The money will come from the federal judgment fund, which pays court judgments and settlements involving the federal government.
Justice Department officials said the fund creates a process for people to seek redress if they believe they were targeted for political, personal or ideological reasons.
“The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American,” Blanche said when the fund was announced.
Some Republicans Also Question The Fund
While Democrats led much of the criticism during Tuesday’s hearing, some Republicans also expressed concern about the fund.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he was “not a big fan” and said he was unsure how the administration planned to use it.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection in a GOP primary Saturday, called it a “slush fund.”
“We are a nation of laws,” Cassidy said. “You can’t just make up things.”
Jan. 6 Cases Remain Central To The Debate
The possibility that Jan. 6 defendants could receive compensation comes after Trump pardoned or commuted sentences for participants in the Capitol attack after returning to office. His Justice Department has also removed some prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases.
Under questioning from Merkley, Blanche said he would “definitely encourage the commission” to consider all relevant facts when reviewing applications. But when asked whether people convicted of violence should receive compensation, Blanche replied, “My feelings don’t matter.”
Merkley accused the administration of using the Justice Department to target political opponents. Blanche rejected that claim and said the fund was meant to address the same type of conduct he accused the Biden administration of carrying out.
“That is completely inappropriate and wrong,” Merkley said. “There is no comparison to the absolute fair minded pursuit of justice under the previous administration, and this administration’s pursuit of an enemies list.”
