U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis has ordered the Trump administration to disclose the architects of a defunct $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. The fund, established through a settlement between Donald Trump and the IRS, was designed to compensate allies and January 6 rioters claiming political targeting. While Attorney General Todd Blanche declared the fund dead to secure his Senate confirmation, ongoing lawsuits challenge the deal's tax audit immunity provisions for the Trump family.
Fund architect disclosure order
- ▪The disclosure order was issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis during a federal court hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, as part of a motion to compel discovery.
- ▪U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis ordered the Trump administration on September 4, 2026, to disclose the identities of the individuals who designed the structure of the defunct $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
- ▪Aman George, senior counsel at Democracy Forward, described the discovery order as a significant step toward investigating the anti-weaponization fund.
Anti-weaponization fund structure
- ▪The anti-weaponization fund's compensation provisions could have extended to January 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendants who were convicted of violent crimes and later pardoned by President Donald Trump.
- ▪The $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund was designed to use taxpayer money from the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund to compensate individuals who claimed they suffered political targeting and lawfare.
Trump IRS settlement terms
- ▪A federal judge in Florida criticized Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service as self-dealing and asserted that the settlement dismissal was designed to evade judicial oversight.
- ▪The anti-weaponization fund was established as part of a settlement agreement resolving a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Donald Trump, two of his sons, and his company against the Internal Revenue Service over leaked tax records.
Tax immunity provision
- ▪The settlement agreement between Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service included a provision granting Trump, his family, and his businesses immunity from all past tax audits and investigations.
- ▪A federal employee union representing Internal Revenue Service workers joined the lawsuit, alleging that the tax audit immunity provision is unlawful and could force employees to violate their oaths of office.
Bipartisan fund opposition
- ▪President Donald Trump defended the anti-weaponization fund during a Cabinet meeting, stating that the fund is dead but wishing it were not.
- ▪The anti-weaponization fund drew bipartisan criticism in Washington, which threatened the Senate confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- ▪Attorney General Todd Blanche stated in writing that the anti-weaponization fund is rescinded, though critics argue a legal loophole remains because other original signatories did not sign the rescission.
Discovery scope legal challenge
- ▪U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis directed that the disclosed names of the fund's architects be treated as protected from public disclosure while the litigation continues.
- ▪U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis rejected the plaintiffs' broader request to identify everyone involved in conceiving, creating, and executing the fund, calling it a potential fishing expedition.
Story comments
Loading comments…