Trump Kills Anti-Weaponization Fund, Siding with GOP Senators Against Justice for Jan. 6 Victims
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Donald Trump announced the death of the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund meant to compensate those unjustly prosecuted after the January 6 Capitol attack, bowing to pressure from hardline Republican senators who continue to obstruct the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that his administration will not establish a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, a measure that could have provided some justice for individuals prosecuted in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Speaking to reporters at Camp David, Trump admitted that officials had decided against the fund, though he claimed to disagree with the move—a hollow gesture given his power to intervene.
This announcement followed Trump’s own social media post acknowledging the ongoing suffering of those prosecuted by the Justice Department, suggesting they deserve compensation. Yet, the administration’s actions contradict these words, as negotiations with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis continue to stall progress. These senators are cynically withholding support for Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, demanding written guarantees that the fund will never be revived.
"The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," Tillis said, revealing the GOP’s determination to block any form of accountability for government overreach.
Blanche, acting as attorney general, previously testified that the fund would not proceed after Republicans sabotaged an immigration funding bill. The Justice Department has since provided language confirming that Blanche’s May 18 order establishing the fund is rescinded, effectively erasing any hope for redress.
Cornyn and Tillis are also pushing for clarification on a separate settlement provision that would shield Trump and his family from tax audits—a blatant attempt to secure special treatment for the powerful. Cornyn claimed the audit protection was limited to parties to the litigation and applied retroactively, but the lack of transparency raises serious concerns.
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on Blanche’s nomination, citing the need for further assurances. Trump, in a display of political gamesmanship, threatened to withdraw Blanche’s nomination and re-submit it after the senators leave office next year. Negotiations dragged on Thursday, with sources indicating that while talks were positive, the senators were still waiting for a new offer from the Justice Department.
White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed accusations of obstruction, insisting that Todd Blanche would be an "exceptional Attorney General" and should be confirmed immediately. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team notified a court of its intent to appeal a ruling that condemned the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS as self-dealing, underscoring the administration’s disregard for ethical standards.
Republican senators, led by Tillis, continued to vilify those prosecuted after January 6, denying they were "victims of government abuse." Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana echoed this hardline stance, admitting that most Senate Republicans are uncomfortable with the fund.
This dispute exposes the deep political rot at the heart of the nomination process and the GOP’s relentless efforts to block even minimal justice for those targeted by the government.