A federal judge agreed to extend a court-ordered block on the Trump administration’s creation and operation of a $1.8 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government. The fund was created to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

Background

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that the government is scrapping its plans for the fund in the face of a fierce bipartisan backlash. However, President Trump has continued to express support for the fund in remarks to reporters. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” will remain blocked until further notice from the court.

Plaintiffs who sued to block fund payouts argue that the government can’t legally divert taxpayer money into what they argue is a slush fund for compensating Trump’s allies. The plaintiffs include a fired prosecutor and a college professor acquitted of assaulting federal agents at a protest.

Many of the Republican president’s allies are opposed to compensating rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. In May, Blanche wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Capitol rioters who engaged could be eligible to apply for payments from the fund.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.