Blanche Won't Rule Out Payouts to Violent Rioters

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday wouldn't rule out the possibility that violent rioters at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will be considered for payouts from a new $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who believe they were targeted politically. Testifying before Congress for the first time since taking the reins of the Justice Department last month, Blanche defended the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" while Democrats blasted it as an illegal abuse of power, the AP reports.

• Pressed during the hearing over whether those who assaulted police officers would be eligible for compensation from the fund, Blanche responded that all people can apply if "they believe they were a victim of weaponization." The acting attorney general also refused to say whether he would direct those responsible for deciding who receives payments—a commission whose members he is tasked with appointing—to restrict funds to those convicted of violence.

• "What I will commit to is making sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs, and that includes setting guidelines as you're describing," Blanche told Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat. The decisions on payouts will be made by a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general.
• Blanche said the fund was "unusual" but not unprecedented, adding that those who benefit will not be limited to Republicans or to people who were investigated or prosecuted by the Biden administration. At one point, Blanche said Hunter Biden—who faced gun and tax prosecutions under his father's administration—could also apply.
• Democrats described it as an illegal abuse of power designed to line the pockets of Trump supporters with taxpayer dollars. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing, blasted the move as a "pure theft of public funds." "Rewarding individuals who committed crimes is obscene," he said. "Every American can see through this illegal, corrupt, self-dealing scheme."
• Democratic Sen. Jack Reed called Blanche "the president's consigliere," the Hill reports. "This all seems to be an obvious abuse of power by the Department of Justice, by the president," Reed said. "He negotiated essentially with himself. You're his appointee, the IRS are his appointees, he's the plaintiff."

• Under questioning from Merkley, Blanche said that he "will definitely encourage the commission" responsible for deciding on the payouts to "take everything into account." But when asked whether he believes those convicted of violence should be entitled to compensation, Blanche said: "My feelings don't matter."
• Blanche told lawmakers that the Justice Department is committed to "full transparency" in providing public information about beneficiaries of the new fund. "It's not limited to Republicans. It's not limited to Democrats. It's not limited to January 6th defendants. It's limited only by the term weaponization," Blanche said, though the administration has not said how it will define "weaponization."
• Meanwhile, there were signs of discomfort about the fund even among some Republican members of Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that he's "not a big fan," adding that he isn't sure how the administration intends to use it, but doesn't "see a purpose for that."