A federal judge has demanded that the Trump administration disclose who was responsible for developing the structure of a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate individuals claiming political prosecution. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan Davis issued this order in the midst of a lawsuit questioning the legitimacy of the proposed fund. The case was initiated by Democracy Forward on behalf of several plaintiffs, including a former federal prosecutor and a college professor, who was acquitted of charges associated with an immigration raid protest.
Last month, the Justice Department announced that the proposed fund had been scrapped. Todd Blanche, a former Justice Department official, confirmed that the fund was effectively defunct and had never been operational. The compensation program emerged from a settlement involving then-President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. There were concerns that the fund might have compensated individuals prosecuted in relation to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, amongst others.
Despite the administration’s decision to abandon the program, it faced criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum, including Republican senators. Skeptics also questioned whether the program might be revived in the future. In a separate ruling in July, a federal judge determined that Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS lacked a legitimate legal basis and had been used to establish the settlement that laid the groundwork for the proposed fund.
Trump has expressed disappointment over the discontinuation of the program, asserting that he believed some individuals were unfairly treated. The recent court order could shed light on the origins of the proposed fund and whether there are any remaining plans to pursue compensation through an alternative mechanism.
