Capitol riot officers sue to block payouts to rioters from new fund

Key Points:

• Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, attack filed a federal lawsuit to block payouts from a new $1.776 billion settlement fund intended for victims of politically motivated prosecutions, including potentially January 6 rioters.
• The lawsuit alleges the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is an illegal slush fund created by former President Trump to finance insurrectionists and paramilitary groups, calling it an unprecedented act of presidential corruption.
• The fund originated from a settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and aims to compensate those claiming mistreatment by previous Justice Department administrations; payout decisions will be made by a commission appointed by the attorney general.
• Plaintiffs Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges and former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn argue the fund encourages violence and increases credible threats against law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump attorney, defended the fund in Congress but did not rule out rioters being eligible for payouts; Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are named as defendants in the lawsuit.