A federal judge in Washington, D.C., rejected a request to block President Trump’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization” fund after the Department of Justice confirmed it was no longer active, but he issued a sharp warning against any attempt to revive it. The fund, criticized for funneling money to allies under federal criminal investigation, remains under close judicial scrutiny over concerns about its legality and secrecy.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former President George W. Bush, emphasized his skepticism during a recent hearing where officials from the DOJ struggled to explain why an official order creating the fund had not been formally rescinded. Judge Leon insisted that if the department is serious about ending the fund, it should provide clear, written confirmation and cautioned the DOJ not to mislead the court.
The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) initiated the legal challenge, describing the fund as “illegally created” and designed to function with “maximum secrecy.” They called on the DOJ to formally shut down the fund in writing. The legal proceedings coincide with legislative discussions, where Senate Republicans debated but ultimately declined to include explicit language in a Homeland Security bill that would have restricted or abolished the fund.