Senate Democrats introduce bill to stop Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly, Adam Schiff and Elissa Slotkin introduced legislation Monday they say would abolish President Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and prevent future efforts.

“If a year and a half in, we’re seeing such brazen acts like this one, who knows what’s coming in the next two years?” Schiff, (D-CA) said.

The bill — dubbed the “Drain the Slush Fund Act” — would prevent taxpayer dollars from being paid to the president or his allies, including those convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

“It shouldn’t be a political statement,” added Slotkin, (D-MI). “Democrats and Republicans should understand that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not be paid to people who have been convicted of violent crimes.”

The president’s nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is meant to benefit Trump’s allies who believe they have been unjustly investigated or prosecuted by previous Justice Departments. Trump said recipients would be reimbursed for legal fees and “other things that they had to suffer.”

Over the past two weeks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) defended the fund, but never fully ruled out the eligibility of people who assaulted police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Multiple reports Monday said Trump is reconsidering pursuing the fund. This comes after the DOJ said it would comply with a Friday court order temporarily pausing the fund for two weeks.

Multiple GOP senators say abiding by the judge’s order does not go far enough.

“It is, I think, very important for this body, for the Senate to speak loudly and clearly and put an end to this so that there is no encouragement, no door left ajar,” Schiff said.

Schiff, Kelly and Slotkin are hopeful their Republican colleagues will support the measure and potentially even cosponsor it.