The Justice Department’s third-highest official revealed—and then quickly removed—a social media post hinting at a new method to compensate individuals who claim to have been victimized by alleged weaponization under President Biden’s administration.
This development occurred shortly after the acting attorney general publicly confirmed that the department had abandoned its proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” a plan tied to a controversial settlement involving former President Trump. The fund was initially established in exchange for Trump dropping multimillion-dollar lawsuits against the IRS and claims related to past investigations during his presidency.
Stanley Woodward, the associate attorney general who approved the original settlement, responded to a tweet by Senator Lindsey Graham suggesting victims could seek compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Woodward’s late-night reply said simply, “We’re on it,” before the post was deleted the next morning. The Justice Department has not explained the removal or offered clarification on whether this signals a shift in strategy.
Earlier, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before a House subcommittee to affirm the administration’s decision to halt the fund. While Democrats pressed Blanche for a written confirmation, he did not commit to documenting the department’s position formally.
Lawmakers may interpret Woodward’s deleted message as an indication that the Justice Department continues to explore avenues to provide reparations, potentially drawing political scrutiny over perceptions of compensating individuals associated with the January 6 events.