Sen. Dick Durbin warns the Department of Justice against paying out claims through a newly described “anti-weaponization” compensation fund of about $1.8 billion. Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, tells DOJ leadership that the program’s scope should not include people connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In communications reported by multiple outlets, Durbin asks acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for further details about how the fund will work, including what standards DOJ will use to determine eligibility.
The fund, described as totaling $1.776 billion in one report, is intended to compensate individuals who allege the legal system was “weaponized” against them. Durbin’s concern centers on DOJ’s reported willingness to consider claims from those accused of or involved in rioting during the Capitol attack. The exchanges are framed as a request for clarification and constraints on who can receive payments, rather than an outright repeal of the fund at this stage.
