(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Weaponization Fund of Trump [1] ['News Corpse', 'Greg Dworkin'] Date: 2026-08-01 There has been a lot of talk about the Anti-Weaponization Bill thrown around lately. As usual, few people, even senators and congressmen hear something like that, and figure they understand it from the context. And as usual they glean only a surface meaning, and it is always a guess as to how accurate that surface info is. For example : The Anti-Weaponization Bill is a fund, not a bill, and has nothing to do with guarding against the weaponization of — anything. It is a fund created and given legitimacy through the DOJ. The Judgment Fund is the primary permanent appropriation used by the U.S. government to pay court judgments and settlements against it. Recently, the Trump-Vance administration established a controversial $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate individuals claiming they were victims of government “lawfare,” though federal judges have since blocked its activation. Trump’s idea for this fund comes from the Keepseagle fund. Trump figured, “Obama did it. What’s the issue?” There are a number of issues, to be frank. The Keepseagle case, which spanned over 18 years of litigation, focused on allegations that the USDA denied Native American producers equal access to credit and loan services. The settlement reached in October 2010 provided: Monetary Relief: Approximately $680 million was allocated for cash payments to successful claimants. Approximately $680 million was allocated for cash payments to successful claimants. Debt Forgiveness: Up to $80 million was designated for debt relief. Up to $80 million was designated for debt relief. Structural Reforms: Mandated improvements to USDA loan programs and the creation of a Native American Farmer and Rancher Council. While the lawsuit was settled years ago, it recently surfaced in legal discussions as a precedent regarding how the federal government manages settlement funds, specifically in comparison to the anti-weaponization fund. The Anti-Weaponization Fund was also forged from a court case. The $1.776 billion reserve, which will be paid for using the DOJ’s judgment fund, is the result of a settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. In 2019 Trump’s tax returns were leaked. Trump sued the IRS, demanding $10 billion, with his sons and his businesses listed as plaintiffs, and beneficiaries. Trump then ‘Settled’ the case with the IRS, being represented by Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General for the United States. The settlement they reached included this slush fund and complete immunity from any action by the IRS against him, his family or any of his businesses. No audits, no phone calls, no taxes. That’s quite a package leaving the IRS unable to collect on Trump’s past tax returns that have been under audit and could result in a tax bill as high as $100 million. Who knows where the ceiling for this protection might reach. Detailed investigations by the House Ways and Means Committee into the IRS presidential audit program found that despite a policy dating back to 1977 requiring audits of sitting presidents, the agency did not initiate a review of Trump’s returns until April 2019. Also, according to the returns, Trump reported having income from or paying taxes to over a dozen foreign countries, including the United Kingdom, Georgia, Qatar, China, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. It’s complicated. However, not surprising with being as busy as the president is. It is obvious though how helpful full immunity might be right now. Trump filed suit against the IRS for that leak back in 2019 — but waited until he came back into office to do so — 2026. From what the IRS website says, the statute of limitations is two years. That was likely what sent the judge over the edge. I’m sure it struck her as odd that Trump, as the sitting president, would sue himself, really, the IRS being under the Executive branch. And this is also where we begin to understand that this isn’t a lawsuit, it’s a grift. It is supposed to look a bit odd. Which is why almost as soon as the case begins, the motion for it to end is brought to the bench. We’ve got a settlement judge, thanks for the help. You can close up the case. It might cross the mind to wonder, if Trump already had his personal lawyer installed as the Attorney General, then why the lawsuit? The DOJ could have simply created the fund and written the immunity? Right? Maybe, but with the package coming in from a settlement, and given the nod from a judge it acquires imprimatur of judicial — legitimacy for a ‘settlement’ that had no viable basis in law or fact. Basically weaponizing judicial legislation. Of course once the judge began to see under the rock they crawled out from, it became obvious, and she became miffed. “”There were multiple senators yelling at the attorney general, saying this feels like self-dealing,” Cruz said.“ Summary and Fallout The Ruling: U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams voided the agreement on July 13, 2026, ruling it a “bad faith” act of self-dealing and barring its use in official proceedings. U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams voided the agreement on July 13, 2026, ruling it a “bad faith” act of self-dealing and barring its use in official proceedings. The Appeal: Trump appealed Judge Williams’ order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on July 31, 2026. Trump appealed Judge Williams’ order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on July 31, 2026. Confirmation Impact: The controversy remains a major roadblock in the Senate confirmation process for Todd Blanche as Attorney General The push for immunity is understandable. But why the $1.776 billion in a slush fund, instead of just a check? or direct deposit? The answer is in the details. One thing you learn about Trump is, he can’t keep anything to himself. He has to talk about it. He has to know that you know that he did it — but not direct. Subtle. He wants you to know that he’s smarter, and can disrespect you to your face — and know you will smile right back. Subtle enough for understanding without being obvious enough to do anything. Most articles on this fund write it as being $1.8 billion. Except it is not. It is very specifically $1.776 billion. 1776, the year of Independence. The Anti-Weaponization Fund has one purpose, to funnel money to Trump’s Jan 6, army. Like I said, disrespectful. President Donald Trump repeatedly defended Jan. 6 rioters Friday and reiterated his support for a $1.8 billion fund to compensate them— Forbes Yes, he explained his purpose for the fund to many, and has written it from his Truth Social account. A fund to bring back his J6ers, his Great American Patriots, as thanks for the loyalty, thanks for the trust — even though aiding and abetting insurrection is illegal, and an act of insurrection. But they are not insurrectionists — if they are pardoned. Right? Yes, you read that right. His first idea was to infiltrate his J6ers into government positions. Places where they would hear things, and learn things. He began with two of them — both of them rioters, both of them convicted in court, both of them pleading guilty. One, is now working for the DOJ. The other is working at the Pentagon Key Appointments at the Pentagon Appointments at the Department of Justice A good experiment, sure. But it attracts a great deal of attention and would continue to do so for as many as Trump infiltrated into the halls of government. Still, he had to do something. Something worthy of the pedestal. When he came across the Keepseagle fund, and imagined Obama at the wheel, he saw a twist, a disrespect he could conjure, subtly. But that’s a laugh on Trump, because the fund came out of the court case, Obama didn’t write it or manage it — I doubt Obama was more than aware-in-passing that it existed. The Judge did ice this settlement, but Trump has appealed. I’m not kidding, he’s committed a felony and has pulled others into his wormhole to go down as well — but boldly, as if he can not be touched, bursts into the court room hollering foul. “The US government is on the hook for potentially millions of dollars in legal bills demanded by successful challengers to some of the Trump administration’s most controversial executive actions and policies.” There is INTENT here. There is a brazenness to the actions. The cunning of the coward and the conniving of the thief. Trump on his own, cost the taxpayers more than whole departments of government in legal fees. Not just in his never ending appeals and suits — but in all of the cases from those people seeking damages for: mass layoffs, wrongful deaths, broken contracts — the settlements and the plaintiff’s legal fees. Those things don’t just fade away, someone has to pay. Someone does. However, Trump is Crime. And Crime don’t pay. 86-47 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/1/800078527/community/the-weaponization-fund-of-trump/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/