Acting Attorney General Defends $1.776 Billion Fund for Alleged Political Targeting

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday defended a $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who believe they were targeted politically by prior Justice Department actions. Blanche appeared before a Senate appropriations subcommittee for his first congressional testimony since taking the position last month.

The fund, announced Monday, draws from the federal judgment fund and will be administered by a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general. Blanche said the fund is open to anyone who believes they were a victim of weaponization, without restriction to Republicans or to those investigated under the prior administration.

Blanche Addresses Jan.

Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, Blanche did not rule out payments to individuals who carried out violence during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He said all applicants who believe they were victims can apply and that he will encourage the commission to take everything into account when setting guidelines.

Blanche refused to commit to barring those convicted of violence, stating that his personal feelings do not matter and that the commission will set the rules.

A separate document signed Tuesday by Blanche and posted on the Justice Department website expanded an earlier settlement with the IRS. The initial settlement did not include direct financial reimbursement for the president. It instead established the compensation fund to resolve his lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns.

Democrats on the subcommittee called the fund an illegal abuse of power. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland described it as pure theft of public funds and said rewarding individuals who committed crimes is obscene. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is not a big fan of the fund and is unsure of its purpose.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy previously called it a slush fund. Blanche said the Justice Department is committed to full transparency about beneficiaries and that the fund is not limited to January 6 defendants or to any political party.