A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Justice (DOJ) from using its “anti-weaponization” fund to pay those targeted by the government.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema wrote in the order that the DOJ may act on the “creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund.”
The order is intended to “ensure that no funds are irreversibly disbursed from the Anti-Weaponization Fund.”
The fund was announced earlier this month by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said in a statement. “As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”
According to a document describing the Fund, that which is deposited into the “Designated Account may be used to pay for per diems, administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, travel, and other support services as may be necessary to carry out the mission of the Anti-Weaponization Fund.”
The order is the latest move against the fund. California Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly took a stand against the fund, threatening to impose a 100% tax on any Californians who receive payments. “Anyone from California that receives any of those funds, we want to tax 100% of those proceeds and that’s an action the state of California can take,” Newsom said at a Wednesday news conference. “It’s an action we look forward to taking.”
