US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

A US federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked any payouts from Donald Trump’s controversial new $1.8bn so-called anti-weaponization settlement fund that emerged from a settlement the US president came to with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The order by US district judge Leonie Brinkema of the eastern district of Virginia blocks the Trump administration from “taking any further action” to set up or operate the fund while the judge hears additional legal arguments.

The justice department announced the creation of the fund last week as part of an agreement to settle Trump’s lawsuit over the leak of his tax records.

It has sparked concern ranging from disquiet, including from some Republicans, to outrage from others with accusations flying of corruption, self-dealing and the prospect of insurrectionists convicted over the 2021 Capitol attack inspired by Trump, who then pardoned the rioters, being eligible for compensation.

More details soon ...

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting