WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� A federal judge on Friday President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration from processing or paying any claims through for the Republican president’s allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, also barred the government from moving forward with the fund鈥檚 creation or operating it while litigation is pending to challenge it.
The judge, who was nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend the order blocking payouts from an 鈥淎nti-Weaponization Fund.鈥� The government created the fund to resolve Trump鈥檚 lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.
The White House declined to comment on the judge’s ruling and referred all questions to the Justice Department, which didn鈥檛 immediately respond to a request for comment. The judge gave the government another week to respond in writing to the plaintiffs’ arguments in favor of freezing the fund’s creation.
The fund has generated a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, with even Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the eligibility considerations and the possibility that even on Jan. 6, 2021, would be free to seek compensation.
The Justice Department hasn鈥檛 formed the five-member commission that will decide on payout criteria, so there has been no money paid out yet or claims accepted.
Plaintiffs鈥� attorneys from the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward are seeking a court order halting the fund鈥檚 implementation and preventing the Trump administration from disbursing any payouts from it. The federal suit claims there is no legal basis or accountability behind the fund.
鈥淧resident Trump and his allies have long accused Democrats of using the government and the legal system as political weapons,鈥� . 鈥淚n doing so, the (Trump) administration fails to acknowledge the unprecedented campaign of targeting individuals and entities for retribution on personal and ideological grounds that it has carried out.鈥�
Brinkema said it鈥檚 important to maintain the status quo 鈥� for at least the next two weeks 鈥� and to ensure that no funds are 鈥渋rreversibly disbursed鈥� from the fund. Her order temporarily prohibits the Trump administration from transferring any money to the fund, considering any claims or disbursing any money from it.
The Virginia lawsuit’s plaintiffs include a fired prosecutor and a college professor acquitted of assaulting federal agents at a protest.
鈥淭he unlawfulness that has imbued the Anti-Weaponization Fund from its inception requires that it be wholly dismantled,鈥� the suit says.
At least two other lawsuits, both filed separately in Washington, also are challenging the fund’s creation. filed by the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington refers to the fund as 鈥渁 jaw-dropping act of presidential corruption.鈥� Two police officers who helped defend the Capitol from a mob of Trump supporters .
During , Blanche wouldn鈥檛 rule out the possibility that on Jan. 6 could be eligible for fund payouts.
Nearly were charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 1,200 were convicted and sentenced before Trump handed out mass pardons, commuted prison sentences and ordered the dismissal of every pending Jan. 6 criminal case last year.
One of the plaintiffs in the Virginia case is former Assistant U.S. Attorney , who prosecuted Capitol riot cases in Washington before he was fired last year by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi. Floyd believes his firing was retaliation for his Jan. 6 work.
鈥淭he President鈥檚 targeting of me and others involved in January 6 prosecutions leaves our country in a very dark place, sending a message that insurrection and sedition will be protected (and even encouraged) as long as it is on behalf of this administration,鈥� Floyd said in .
Another plaintiff is California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, who was acquitted of an assault charge. He was accused of throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents during against an immigration raid at a Camarillo, California, cannabis farm.
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Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
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