WASHINGTON — U.S. acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers he could not commit to barring money from President Donald Trump's newly announced 'weaponization' fund from going to people who assaulted police officers, including during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Blanche, in his first congressional testimony since becoming acting attorney general, also told Democratic senators that he could not commit to barring any of the nearly $1.8 billion from the settlement going to Trump campaign donors.
The Justice Department on Monday created a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of political 'weaponization' to settle a lawsuit Trump had filed against his own government over the alleged mishandling of his tax records.
The pool of money will be controlled by Trump allies who can give payments to those who claim to have suffered 'weaponization or lawfare' by the U.S. government.
Blanche denied that Trump 'set up' the settlement fund. He said the five-member settlement commission will act independently. He also argued that a similar fund existed under former President Barack Obama's Justice Department.
'The president did not direct me to do anything,' he said, later adding that the fund's money could be given to members of any political party.
Senator Patty Murray called it 'the sitting president of the United States looting from the Treasury for his own gain.'
Blanche also faced questions about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. He said he would commit to not recommending a pardon for former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
