WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday wouldn’t rule out the possibility that people who carried out violence during the will be considered for payouts from a new who believe they were targeted politically.
Pressed during a Congressional hearing over whether those who assaulted police officers would be eligible for compensation from the 鈥淎nti-Weaponization Fund,鈥� Blanche responded that all people can apply if 鈥渢hey believe they were a victim of weaponization.鈥� The acting attorney general also refused to say whether he would direct those responsible for deciding who receives payments 鈥� a commission whose members he is tasked with appointing 鈥� to restrict funds to those convicted of violence.
鈥淲hat I will commit to is making sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs, and that includes setting guidelines as you鈥檙e describing,鈥� Blanche told Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat. The decisions on payouts will be made a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general.
Appearing before Congress for the first time since last month, Blanche was peppered with questions about the fund announced on Monday to compensate those who believe they were mistreated by prior administrations’ Justice Department. Blanche said the fund was 鈥渦nusual鈥� but not unprecedented, adding that those who benefit will not be limited to Republicans or to people who were investigated or prosecuted by the Biden administration. At one point, Blanche said President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter 鈥� who faced under his father’s administration 鈥� could also apply.
Blanche defends $1.8 billion fund
Tuesday鈥檚 hearing was meant to address the Trump administration鈥檚 budget request for the Justice Department but quickly delved into other controversies that have escalated concerns about the tradition of independence from the White House. Blanche defended the creation of the fund without any acknowledgment that the Trump administration has pursued investigations of Trump’s political opponents, sparking criticism that the department is being weaponized in precisely the same way they allege it was under
In the weeks since after Pam Bondi’s firing, Blanche has moved aggressively to advance the president鈥檚 priorities 鈥� against Trump鈥檚 political foes, cracking down on leaks to media outlets and establishing the new fund to resolve Trump鈥檚 $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns.
Democrats described it as an illegal abuse of power designed to line the pockets of Trump supporters with taxpayer dollars. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing, blasted the move as a 鈥減ure theft of public funds.鈥�
鈥淩ewarding individuals who committed crimes is obscene,鈥� the Maryland Democrat said. 鈥淓very American can see through this illegal, corrupt, self-dealing scheme.鈥�
The fund is in keeping with Trump鈥檚 long-running claims that the Justice Department during the Biden administration was weaponized against him, even though then-President Biden himself was investigated during that time and his son was prosecuted. Merrick Garland, who served as attorney general during the Biden administration, has repeatedly denied allegations of politicization and has said his decisions followed facts, the evidence and the law.
Trump administration has been rewriting the history of Jan. 6
The mere possibility that violent rioters at the Capitol could be considered for payouts is consistent with a Trump administration pattern of rewriting the dark history of Jan. 6, a trend that began when the president of the participants in the melee and that continued with the Justice Department firing
Under questioning from Merkley, Blanche said that he 鈥渨ill definitely encourage the commission鈥� responsible for deciding on the payouts to 鈥渢ake everything into account.鈥� But when asked whether he believes those convicted of violence should be entitled to compensation, Blanche said: 鈥淢y feelings don’t matter.鈥�
When Merkley suggested that Trump was using the Justice Department to target his political enemies, Blanche replied that this was precisely the sort of 鈥渄isgusting鈥� behavior of the Biden administration that the fund was meant to address.
鈥淭hat is completely inappropriate and wrong,’ Merkley said. 鈥淭here is no comparison to the absolute fair minded pursuit of justice under the previous administration, and this administration鈥檚 pursuit of an enemies list.鈥�
Questions over the meaning of 鈥榳eaponization鈥�
In announcing the fund Monday, the Trump administration did not name specific individuals who might stand to benefit from it. The money itself would come from the federal judgment fund, which pays out court judgments and compromise settlements of lawsuits against the government.
Blanche told lawmakers that the Justice Department is committed to 鈥渇ull transparency鈥� in providing public information about beneficiaries of the new fund.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not limited to Republicans. It鈥檚 not limited to Democrats. It鈥檚 not limited to January 6th defendants. It鈥檚 limited only by the term weaponization,鈥� Blanche said, though the administration has not said how it will define 鈥渨eaponization.鈥�
Meanwhile, there were signs of discomfort about the fund even among some Republican members of Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that he鈥檚 鈥渘ot a big fan,鈥� adding that he isn鈥檛 sure how the administration intends to use it, but doesn’t 鈥渟ee a purpose for that.鈥�
Thune鈥檚 comments come after Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection in a GOP primary on Saturday, called it a 鈥渟lush fund.鈥�
鈥淲e are a nation of laws,鈥� Cassidy said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just make up things.鈥�
____
Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
