Trump Lackeys Forced to Face the Public on Trump’s Blatantly Corrupt Slush Fund
“We are trying to give money, not give money…”
Two of President Trump’s closest friends were forced to confront the situation today. Bipartisan outrage over the corrupt slush fund created by the Justice Department for Trump’s friends and political allies swelled in the hours after his announcement Monday.
As TPM reported, the Justice Department’s actions yesterday were among the most blatantly corrupt we’ve seen, and that’s a high bar in Trump II, when the president didn’t hesitate for a moment before putting the Justice Department under his purview upon his return to office.
On Monday, Trump and the IRS signed a settlement agreement in which Trump dismissed his lawsuit against the IRS, his own government’s agency, in which he sought damages for the leak of his tax records in 2019. In exchange, the DOJ would establish an “Anti-Arms Fund,” which was immediately presented as nothing more than a “slush fund” for Trump supporters — including, reportedly, those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 – and other MAGA allies. Trump’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit also created a situation convenient to him in which the U.S. district court judge overseeing the case did not have time to review whether the lawsuit was legally valid in the first place.
The Justice Department announced the creation of an “Anti-Arms Fund” in a press release Monday, arguing that it was available to anyone who believes they have been mistreated by a “militarized” justice system – a claim overwhelmingly made by Trump’s friends.
But the vagueness of the deal created a situation in which Trump’s vice president, J.D. Vance, and acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, were forced to publicly eat shit on Tuesday, publicly selling the deal by answering pointed questions from reporters and, in Blanche’s case, bipartisan concerns from lawmakers.
Journalists and lawmakers questioned whether those convicted of attacking police officers on Jan. 6 would be eligible for compensation. Vance’s response was confusing as he vacillated between attacking the reporter who asked the question and giving a coherent answer that wouldn’t upset the faction of Trump’s base that still respects law enforcement.
“We’re not trying to give money to anyone who attacked a police officer. We’re trying to give money, not money, we’re trying to compensate people who received the book and who were mistreated by the justice system,” he said during a White House press briefing, during which he covered White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt while she was on maternity leave.
“Sometimes, you know, we are – we are, John, in this country, innocent until proven guilty,” he continued, speaking to the reporter. “We have people who were accused for attacking law enforcement officers. That doesn’t mean we’re going to completely ignore some of their claims. »
Clear as mud. Blanche was asked to address similar concerns during her previously scheduled appearance before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee. Democrats criticized the acting AG for “clear abuse of power by the Justice Department, by the president,” as Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) put it.
“What we are talking about is nothing more than the sitting President of the United States plundering the Treasury for his own gain. Do you seriously think this arrangement is appropriate? The President is telling the federal government to settle a case and let him pay billions to anyone he wants?” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). “This is corruption that has never been more blatant. … What happens is you write the check, Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers, who are already being hit by high prices, are going to foot the bill.”
Democratic and Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) pressed Blanche for details on who exactly would be eligible for compensation.
“This is not limited to Republicans. This is not limited to the weaponization of Biden. This is not limited in any way, scope or form to January 6 or Jack Smith. There are no limitations on the allegations,” Blanche said.
“It’s completely voluntary if a person wants to file a claim and claim they were a victim of weaponization, and the commission can do anything based on what was put in place yesterday, from apologizing to the claimant to providing compensation,” he continued before cartoonishly suggesting that even Hunter Biden might qualify!
“This is not limited to President Trump or his friends. On the contrary, President Trump is not taking a dime,” Blanche said. “The commissioners will make rules, I’m sure… It’s not up to me to set them. It’s up to the commissioners, and if an individual, an Oath Keeper as you just mentioned, asks for compensation… anyone in this country can make a request.”
As long as Trump himself doesn’t personally benefit, but the insurgent Oath Keepers do, who could worry?
Raskin wants to force Republicans to speak out publicly
House Democrats plan to soon introduce a bill that would block Trump’s slush fund and also block the creation of something similar in the future, as part of an effort to force their Republican colleagues to account for this unprecedented corrupt action. They plan to use a discharge petition to bypass House Republican leaders to pass the legislation, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The New Republic’s Greg Sargent:
“We need to embarrass Republicans about whether or not they’re going to condone this high-level corruption, or whether they’re going to stand up for core constitutional values,” Raskin said in an interview, adding that he would pursue “simple legislation to block this outrageous misappropriation.”
Even Lindsey has questions
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) didn’t have much to say when asked about Trump’s $1.8 billion “legal aid” fund, but he told reporters Tuesday that he was “not a big fan” of it and didn’t “see the point of it.”
“I think there are, and always will be, a lot of questions about this that the administration will have to answer,” he said at a press briefing.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed a similar sentiment to reporters Tuesday, according to Politico:
Even Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the White House’s staunchest allies who once championed compensation for lawmakers whose phone data was subpoenaed by the Biden administration, said Tuesday that he thought senators needed more information.
“Conceptually, I understand what he’s trying to do, but I don’t know,” he said. “I think we need to ask more questions.”
In case you missed it
He waited until the last minute to support Paxton. More from Kate Riga: Trump finally endorses Paxton over Cornyn in Texas Senate primary after months of hesitation
Emine Yücel discusses concerns related to the separation of powers regarding the fund: DOJ’s “anti-arms” slush fund creates “deep loophole”
Morning memo: Collecting the Rubble from Trump II’s Worst Day Yet
The last one in Callais fallout from Kate Riga and Khaya Himmelman: Missouri Tries to Ignore Petition and Brute Force Gerrymander Is Implemented
TPM Coffee: Democrats shouldn’t let Russell Vought go unnoticed
Yesterday’s most read story
Trump drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit to avoid scrutiny of corrupt settlement deal
What we read
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The Plunder of America
Republican senators furious at Trump’s support for Paxton
