Judge agrees to review Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Florida ordered Trump’s lawyers to respond to a motion by 35 former federal judges challenging the $1.8 billion taxpayer-supported anti-weaponization fund. The fund was created after Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns was settled without trial by agreeing to establish the fund. The former judges argued Trump acted as both plaintiff and executive-branch overseer of the IRS, calling the lawsuit “a fraud on the court.” They sought reopening to determine whether the settlement occurred after the court was deceived. Williams previously dismissed the case after settlement but said the court can investigate serious misconduct. In Virginia, Judge Leonie Brinkema temporarily froze the fund and ordered officials to stop setting up the money to prevent irreversible disbursement, citing efforts to compensate Trump allies, Jan. 6 rioters, and others Trump says were unjustly targeted.

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