Former Vice President Mike Pence has come out against the Trump administration’s new “anti-weaponization fund”, calling it “totally unacceptable” and urging the administration to drop it. The $1.776 billion fund, established as part of a settlement with the IRS, aims to provide taxpayer-funded payouts to people who claim the legal system has been “weaponized” against them.
The fund has sparked pushback on Capitol Hill and divided Republicans, with some Trump allies, including those charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, eager to submit claims. Pence, who was a target of the rioters at the Capitol, said people who assaulted police officers and vandalized the Capitol should not receive taxpayer money from the fund.
Trump’s Weaponization Fund
The fund was established after President Trump sued the IRS, and its creation has forced GOP leaders to scrap plans to fund immigration enforcement. Senate Republicans have sought answers on how the fund will operate and who might receive payments from it, along with possible guardrails to prevent people who assaulted law enforcement from being compensated.
Pence emphasized that the Justice Department can settle issues where people have had their rights trampled on, and that he welcomes such settlements. However, he expressed concern that the fund could be used to compensate people who have committed violent acts, saying “people that assaulted police officers on Jan. 6, and vandalized our Capitol should not get one dime of taxpayer money from that fund or anywhere else.”
Reactions and Implications
The controversy surrounding the fund has led to a federal judge temporarily barring the Justice Department from moving forward with work on it. The DOJ has expressed confidence in the fund’s legality, but Pence’s rejection of the fund adds to the growing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The debate over the fund is part of a larger conversation about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute those involved. Pence’s comments come as the White House faces criticism for its handling of the anniversary of the attack, with some accusing the administration of trying to rewrite history.
