GOP senators distance themselves from Trump fund, ‘I don’t need compensation’
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the growing criticism of President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization fund,’ some Republicans have refused to take compensation under the Trump fund, despite their phone records having been targeted by the Biden administration.
The Trump administration has recently proposed an anti-weaponization fund in exchange for the settlement of the president's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the leak of his tax returns.
The program is designed to compensate Americans whom the Justice Department determines were victims of political "lawfare" and government abuse under previous administrations.
Republicans reject payments from Trump fund
Among the potential eligible recipients of Trump’s fund are Republican lawmakers whose phone records were targeted during the Biden-era "Arctic Frost" investigation into efforts surrounding the 2020 election. However, they say they don't want to be paid from the taxpayers’ fund.
"I don’t need any compensation for that," Sen Rick Scott (R-Fla), told the Washington Examiner.
Sen Ron Johnson (R-Wis), another Republican whose records were reportedly seized, defended the idea behind the fund as a deterrent against federal abuse but said he personally "would not apply" for compensation.
The controversial fund has been a flash point recently, with even Republicans criticizing the Trump administration and questioning its functioning.
Senate Republicans recently met with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to seek clarification about how the fund would operate and who would qualify.
Vance explains Trump fund eligibility
During the White House press briefing on Tuesday, May 19, where Vice President JD Vance filled in for White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, he defended Trump’s $1.7 billion anti-weaponization fund and explained that even Hunter Biden was eligible for the application.
While taking questions about potential applicants for the fund, he clarified that anybody who was wrongfully targeted by the former administration can apply for the compensation, as it is about “compensating Americans.”
“Let me say a couple things about that. First, Jon, I think in some ways the media has misrepresented what this is actually about. This is about compensating Americans for the lawfare that we saw under the last administration. And by the way, anybody can apply for it,” Vance replied.
Vance then suggested that Hunter Biden can also apply for compensation, saying, “Republicans can apply for it. Democrats can apply for it, as you know, the President of the United States has pardoned several Democrats who he felt were actually subject to this lawfare. I mean, if Hunter Biden wants to apply for this particular fund, he is welcome to.”
