Bennet, Pettersen, Hickenlooper Demand Answers as Trump Administration Pursues Potential Payouts for January 6 Defendants and Election Deniers

 Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls, and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here . M About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Pettersen, Hickenlooper Demand Answers as Trump Administration Pursues Potential Payouts for January 6 Defendants and Election Deniers The letter follows reports that January 6 defendants are pursuing compensation through the Federal Tort Claims Act as Trump refuses to provide proof his slush fund was terminated. Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, joined U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen and Senator John […] Jun 12, 2026 | Press Releases The letter follows reports that January 6 defendants are pursuing compensation through the Federal Tort Claims Act as Trump refuses to provide proof his slush fund was terminated. Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, joined U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen and Senator John Hickenlooper to demand a full accounting of the Trump Administration’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and any alternative efforts to compensate January 6 defendants, election deniers, or individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Tina Peters. The lawmakers’ letter follows reports that attorneys representing hundreds of January 6 defendants have filed claims seeking compensation from the federal government despite the fact that the administration claimed that the fund is no longer moving forward. Yet, Trump has failed to provide any written confirmation that the slush fund has been terminated or disclose who applied for compensation, whether any payments were approved, or how taxpayer dollars may have been used. “Despite repeated assurances that you are ‘not moving forward with the fund,’ your agencies have produced no written confirmation of its closure, no legal justification for its existence, and no accounting of who applied, what was promised, or whether taxpayer dollars were ever committed. The absence of even the most basic materials — coupled with conflicting statements from the Administration — raises a serious concern: that the fund was used, or intended to be used, to financially reward individuals involved in the January 6 attack or those who amplified false claims of a stolen election,” wrote the lawmakers. “These concerns have only intensified in light of public statements from individuals who applied for compensation and now describe the fund as merely a ‘brief distraction’ while they pursue payouts through other channels.  The opacity surrounding this program has not lessened; it has deepened. And it has fueled legitimate fears that the fund, and the legal rationales underlying it, may have been — or could still be — used to support individuals whose actions undermined democratic institutions or threatened public safety, including through meritless claims brought by January 6 defendants and taxpayer‑funded payments to rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers,” continued the lawmakers. The letter requests a complete accounting of: All individuals or entities who applied for compensation through the Anti-Weaponization Fund; Any payments that were approved, denied, or disbursed; Documents related to the creation, administration, and purported closure of the fund; Communications between the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, IRS, and the White House regarding the fund; Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claims filed by January 6 defendants and individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election; and Any discussions regarding potential settlements or payouts for individuals claiming to be victims of “weaponization.” Bennet has consistently fought against Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund. In June 2026, Bennet led Democratic members of the Subcommittee in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano, demanding answers on the settlement addendum reached with President Trump that prevents the Department of Justice from bringing any action or pursuing any tax audit into previous returns filed by Trump, his family members, or affiliated companies. Bennet also filed amendments during the budget reconciliation process to eliminate the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” block Donald Trump’s corrupt Department of Justice (DOJ) settlement that shields him and his family from tax audits, and prevent any future administration from creatin