Trump Administration Weighs $1.7 Billion Fund for Allies Investigated Under Biden

Key Points:

• The Trump administration is considering creating a $1.7 billion fund to compensate President Trump’s allies and others investigated by the Justice Department under President Biden, raising ethical and political concerns.
• The proposed fund is modeled partly on a $760 million Obama-era settlement for Native American farmers, using the Judgment Fund, a Treasury-maintained source that does not require congressional approval.
• The plan aims to address claims made by Trump regarding investigations into his tax returns, classified documents, and 2016 campaign ties to Russia, as well as a $10 billion lawsuit he filed against the IRS.
• Treasury Department officials have been involved in discussions, but the source of the fund’s money remains unclear, and the proposal has faced criticism from Democrats and former officials as a potential political slush fund.
• The Justice Department and White House are fast-tracking the plan, but it has not yet been finalized or approved amid concerns about conflicts of interest and self-dealing.