Amna Nawaz
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WATCH: Sen. Merkley presses Blanche to make people who assault officers ineligible for new DOJ fund
Posted
May 19, 2026
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May 19, 2026
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2:27Now PlayingSen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to commit to making people convicted of assaulting police officers ineligible for a new Justice Department fund on Tuesday in a hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.
On Monday, the Justice Department announced an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement with Trump to end a lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The nearly $1.8 billion fund would offer payouts to Trump allies who claim they had been unfairly targeted by the Justice Department under the Biden administration.
Government watchdogs and Democratic lawmakers blasted the creation of the fund as corruption, saying it could reward – with taxpayer money – people who had helped storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, among others.
“Will you encourage [the fund’s commissioners] to have a guideline that says those who have been convicted of violent acts against police officers are not eligible?” Merkley asked.
Blanche said he “will definitely encourage the commissioners to take everything into account when determining who should get compensation.”
Merkley pressed further. “But why not this specific issue of violent acts, convicted of violent acts against police officers? Do you feel they should get compensation after being convicted of violent acts?” he asked.
Blanche said his “feelings don't matter."
"What I will commit to is making sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs and that includes setting guidelines like you're describing," the acting attorney general said.
Blanche was invited to testify on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request for the Justice Department, but faced questions on a number of issues.
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