Ally of DOJ pardon attorney seeks to join board of Trump's $1.7+ billion fund
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Republican lawyer Mike Howell, a close ally of U.S. pardon attorney Ed Martin, has applied to join a Justice Department panel distributing over $1.7 billion to individuals claiming to be victims of legal "weaponization."
- The fund was established as part of a DOJ settlement of a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former President Trump against the IRS for leaking his tax returns, and will operate through the end of 2028.
- Howell, president of the conservative Oversight Project and a Heritage Foundation fellow, has a history of advocating for those he claims were targeted for their political views and plans to organize a national gathering of fund claimants if selected.
- The DOJ states there are no partisan requirements to file claims, but many MAGA supporters, including January 6 defendants, are expected to seek compensation from the fund.
- Howell’s appointment would place him in a powerful position to oversee payments, continuing a pattern of Trump-related efforts to support his political allies, including pardons for Capitol riot participants.