ALEXANDRIA, Va.— Department of Justice lawyers have asked U.S.
District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema to dismiss a case connected to the Trump administration's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," arguing that Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal recission order in August and has affirmed many times, including under oath before Congress, that the fund is dead.However, Brinkema seemed skeptical on Friday."The issues that underly this case are still alive and kicking in my view," Brinkema said."The real concern that lurks...is the concept of taxpayer money being used to promote particular political views," Brinkema said, pointing to pro-life activists convicted of violating the FACE Act and others who attempted an "insurrection" on January 6th "to overthrow the legitimate election."CLINTON JUDGE INDEFINITELY BLOCKS TRUMP'S $1.776B ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUNDU.S.
District Judge Leonie Brinkema questioned whether the issues surrounding the Trump administration’s now-rescinded $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund remain unresolved.(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)"That entity is gone," said Brinkema, referring to the Anti-Weaponization Fund and agreeing that Blanche has said under oath at his confirmation hearings that the fund is dead.
"But is there a functional equivalent?" Brinkema said, referring to the DOJ's ordinary Judgment Fund authority.The Judgment Fund is a permanent U.S.Treasury account managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service that pays court judgments and DOJ legal settlements against the federal government.
Brinkema called that fund "a less transparent structure" and suggested that some defendants convicted of FACE Act crimes have already received large payouts from the DOJ's Judgement Fund.JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP DOJ'S NEARLY $2B 'ANTI-WEAPONIZATION' FUNDJustice Department lawyers asked a federal judge Friday to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the Anti-Weaponization Fund, arguing Attorney General Todd Blanche formally termin...