US police sue to block January 6 rioters from Trump’s $1.77 billion fund

Two US police officers who defended the Capitol during the January 6, 2021, riot have filed a federal lawsuit to prevent participants in the violence from receiving payouts from a new $1.77 billion fund. The suit, filed by Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges and former US Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, challenges the legitimacy of the 'Anti-Weaponization Fund', which was established as part of a settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The fund was created in exchange for Trump dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which had been seeking damages for alleged leaks of tax returns. Under the terms of the settlement, the IRS pledged not to pursue back taxes from Trump, his family, or the Trump Organisation. The 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' is intended to compensate individuals who claim they were mistreated by the Justice Department under previous administrations, with eligibility determined by a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general.

The officers argue that the fund operates as an illegal slush fund designed to finance insurrectionists and paramilitary groups, thereby increasing threats to their safety. The lawsuit describes the creation of the fund as "the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century" and asserts that no statute authorises its establishment. The plaintiffs contend that the settlement is a "corrupt sham" and that the fund's design violates the Constitution and federal law.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a personal attorney for Trump before joining the Justice Department, faced scrutiny during a congressional hearing on Tuesday regarding the fund. While describing the arrangement as "unusual" but not unprecedented, Blanche failed to rule out the possibility that January 6 rioters could be eligible for payouts. The lawsuit notes that Blanche did not acknowledge the current administration's focus on prosecuting perceived enemies, including former FBI director James Comey and Senator Adam Schiff.

The plaintiffs, who both testified before Congress about their experiences during the riot, allege that the fund encourages violence in the president's name and substantially increases the danger to law enforcement. Hodges and Dunn already face credible threats of death, and the suit argues that the fund exacerbates these risks. The lawsuit names Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants and calls for the dissolution of the fund.