Overview
- The Justice Department unveiled the $1.776 billion fund Monday after President Trump moved to dismiss with prejudice his $10 billion IRS lawsuit over leaked tax returns, with DOJ saying he will get an apology but no money.
- The money will come from a Treasury settlement account known as the Judgment Fund, which allows the government to pay settlements without new votes by Congress and has few built-in public reporting requirements.
- A five-member commission appointed by Blanche will run the program, with one member selected in consultation with congressional leaders, quarterly reports going to the attorney general, and claims accepted through December 15, 2028.
- Testifying Tuesday, Blanche said anyone who believes they were targeted can apply and he named Hunter Biden as an example, while not ruling out claims from some January 6 defendants, as Democrats denounced the plan as a taxpayer-funded slush fund.
- Nearly 100 House Democrats filed a court brief Monday calling the resolution self-dealing and warning it short-circuits judicial review, and watchdogs signaled lawsuits that could test whether a president can use settlements to steer large payouts with limited oversight.