Overview
- Judge Leonie Brinkema refused to dismiss the challenge on Thursday after the Justice Department declined to file sworn declarations under penalty of perjury saying the $1.776–$1.8 billion Anti‑Weaponization Fund will not be revived.
- The Justice Department argued that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's unsworn congressional testimony that the fund is "not moving forward" makes sworn declarations unnecessary and raised separation‑of‑powers objections to Brinkema's request.
- Brinkema wrote that officials had "refused to accord a genuine degree of trustworthiness" to their representations, kept a preliminary injunction in place that blocks creation or disbursement of the fund, and set a July 17 deadline for DOJ to file a substantive answer as the case moves toward discovery.
- Reporting and court filings warn that even if the specific fund is stalled the administration could seek alternate payout paths such as individual settlements or the Treasury Judgment Fund, raising oversight concerns about taxpayer money reaching Trump allies and Jan. 6 defendants.
- Separate litigation in Florida and a brief from 35 retired federal judges argue the May settlement may have been contrived, a claim that could trigger deeper court scrutiny, possible sanctions, and continued congressional pressure ahead of key DOJ hearings.