Trump Administration Scraps $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that the Justice Department is scrapping plans for a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. The decision follows reports that President Donald Trump was reconsidering the initiative amid significant bipartisan backlash and pressure from congressional leaders. Legal scholars and critics had denounced the fund as a "slush fund" and "outright theft," alleging it would be used to assist January 6 rioters. The retreat reportedly occurred as the administration faced an impasse with senators over a separate $72 billion immigration enforcement bill, which lawmakers indicated might be blocked unless the fund was abandoned.
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Sources
‘Outright theft’: legal experts decry $1.8bn Trump anti-weaponization fund | Trump administration | The Guardian
A pro-Trump mob storms the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP ... Critics from both sides and legal scholars say ‘slush fund’ is scheme that will help January 6 rioters ... A legal and political firestorm is growing over the $1.776bn “anti-weaponization” fund ...
Acting attorney general says Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponization’ fund is scrapped | Donald Trump | The Guardian
He later added that the justice department would continue granting immunity to Trump and his family members on tax matters before the agreement was reached last month. He did not say why the department was dropping the weaponization fund but proceeding with the anti-audit provision.
See All Newsletters ... EEUU bombardea blancos militares iraníes; derriba misiles que Irán dispara contra tropas en Kuwait ... The Trump administration is scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of the president, the Justice Department’s top official said Tuesday. Read More ... Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ...
Trump administration scraps $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation fund’ | Donald Trump News | Al Jazeera
But the $1.8bn fund would be set aside, he said, confirming media reports a day earlier. Blanche’s announcement came as furious senators faced an impasse with Trump over a $72bn bill to fund immigration enforcement operations. Congressional leaders had questioned whether they could pass the bill if the Trump administration did not abandon the fund, which was politically unpopular. A source familiar with the White House’s thinking told the Reuters news ...
Trump halts $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund amid bipartisan backlash | Politics News | Al Jazeera
United States President Donald Trump will reportedly drop his $1.8bn “anti-weaponisation” fund amid congressional backlash, including from fellow Republicans. On Monday, US media indicated the fund would be paused, though the White House has yet to publicly confirm the reports. ... Axios was the first to break the news...
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