Judge Temporarily Blocks Payouts From Trump's $1.8 Billion 'Anti-weaponization' Settlement Fund

U.S. District Judge Leone Brinkema in Virginia on Friday temporarily blocked payouts from President Donald Trump's $1.776 billion settlement fund to people who believe they were victims of a weaponized government, ordered that defendants be and are enjoined from taking any further action pursuant to the creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the fund, the consideration of any claims submitted to the fund, and the dispersing of any funds from the fund, the judge wrote. The judge has scheduled a June 12 hearing to argue on whether to extend the order. The Trump administration created the fund to resolve Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. The settlement also permanently bars the IRS from auditing past or current tax issues involving Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization. The fund has created a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, and some congressional Republicans openly question the appropriation for it. The Justice Department hasn't formed the five-member commission that will decide on payout criteria, so there has been no money paid out yet, or claims, accepted.