Judge temporarily blocks DOJ work on $1.7+ billion "anti-weaponization" fund

Washington — A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Justice Department from moving forward with work on the new $1.7+ billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, including making any payouts. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said in a brief order that the temporary hold allows her time to consider whether to grant longer-term relief sought by a group of plaintiffs who are challenging the new fund , which was announced by the Justice Department earlier this month. Andrew Floyd, a former federal prosecutor who investigated and prosecuted people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, and Jonathan Caravello, a California professor who was arrested while protesting an immigration raid, as well as nonprofits, filed their lawsuit last week arguing that the fund is unlawful. The lawsuit alleged that the fund is a "collusive agreement" between President Trump and his administration that "has no congressional authorization, no basis in law, and no accountability." The Anti-Weaponization Fund was created by the Justice Department as part of a settlement of Mr. Trump's civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns by a former government contractor. The Justice Department said the program aims to "provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare." A five-member board would determine payouts from the $1.7 billion pot. …