Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) on Monday slammed the Department of Justice's decision to establish a $1.776 billion fund for allies of President Trump who claim they were targeted by the federal government, describing it as "one more day in the worst presidency in American history."
The DOJ announced the so-called "anti-weaponization fund" as part of a settlement in Trump's now-withdrawn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The fund is designed to compensate individuals who say they were wrongly investigated or prosecuted during the Biden administration.
Speaking on CNN's The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Bennet rejected the fund's stated purpose, saying, "I would call it one more day in the worst presidency in American history" rather than an anti-weaponization effort. He accused Trump of using the Justice Department "to not just defend himself but enrich himself."
Bennet pointed to the administration's anti-fraud task force led by Vice President Vance, noting its focus while Trump sits on billions in cryptocurrency. He also criticized the war in Iran, arguing "every single rationale that he has given for that war has turned out to be completely without merit."
The Colorado Democrat blasted Trump's handling of the DOJ as "shameful" and compared giant banners depicting the president's image outside the DOJ building in Washington, D.C., to something from "some fascist state somewhere where the great leader is able to put his face on the outside of government buildings."
Bennet continued: "And now he's turned the work of the Justice Department to basically fund his allies and lawbreakers on Jan. 6 that attacked the Capitol of the United States, that attacked Capitol police officers in full view of the American people. And President Trump is not only saying there is nothing to see here, he's saying they should be compensated by the taxpayers of the United States."
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund, saying it sets "up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress" and ensures "this never happens again." For more on Blanche's defense, see Acting AG Blanche Faces Senate Grilling Over Trump's $40.8B DOJ Budget and New 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund.
Democratic lawmakers have accused the DOJ of creating a "slush fund" and argued it is unconstitutional because Congress never approved it. A group of 93 House Democrats filed an amicus brief in federal court in the Southern District of Florida to block the fund, claiming it "raises the specter of corruption unparalleled in American history." Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), one of the filers, called the fund a way to finance Trump's "private militia." Read more in Raskin Blasts Trump's $1.78B Fund as 'Private Militia' Slush Fund.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Trump of devising "a plan to shake hands with himself in order to fund his insurrectionist army to the tune of billions." Raskin added on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show that if these individuals had valid legal claims, "they would go to federal court, and the ones who have gone to federal court have lost their cases overwhelmingly."
The fund's creation is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing battle over the DOJ's role under Trump. For context on the fund's announcement, see DOJ Unveils $1.78B Fund for Trump Allies Claiming Biden-Era Persecution.
