Justice Department Establishes $1.7 Billion Fund
The Justice Department established a $1.7 billion fund to compensate individuals alleging unfair targeting, as President Trump dropped his IRS lawsuit.
Lauren Collins ·
Justice Department Establishes $1.7 Billion Fund
The U.S. Justice Department announced Monday the creation of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate individuals alleging unfair targeting by federal investigators, coinciding with President Donald Trump's withdrawal of his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This development occurred two days before a May 20 deadline for legal arguments regarding the lawsuit's validity, given Trump's current oversight of the IRS.
The fund, termed the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," will be overseen by a five-member commission, with four members appointed by the Attorney General. It is designed to address claims from individuals, including those pardoned by Trump for their involvement in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, who assert they were politically targeted. While Trump's sons and the Trump Organization, plaintiffs in the original lawsuit, will receive an apology, they will not receive monetary compensation from this fund.
The settlement effectively resolves Trump's lawsuit, which stemmed from the 2020 leak of his tax returns by a former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn. Littlejohn pleaded guilty in 2023 to stealing tax data and was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison. The establishment of this fund aims to provide a mechanism for redress for those claiming governmental overreach.