Press Release

Senators: “This settlement agreement and the fund it creates demand accountability.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) , a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee , led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation into President Trump’s creation of the nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” In their letter to DOJ Acting IG William Blier, the Senators emphasize how President Trump’s slush fund, created from a settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) , represents waste, fraud, and abuse of an unprecedented magnitude and must be subjected to independent scrutiny. The Senators slam President Trump’s slush fund for drawing almost $1.8 billion from the Judgment Fund—a permanent, indefinite appropriation funded by American tax dollars to pay legitimate settlements and court judgments against the United States: “Now these tax dollars are set to go to whomever President Trump pleases; there are no limitations on individuals affiliated with the President receiving payments from the Fund. Not only is the baseless partisan nature of the Fund egregious in and of itself, but the Fund has no limits on payouts to individuals convicted of violent crimes, including, for instance, the President’s supporters who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers on January 6 th , 2021, at least one of whom has gone on to commit further horrendous crimes empowered by his belief in future monetary restitution from the Trump Administration.” The Senators also highlight how President Trump and his appointees have virtually complete discretion over the slush fund’s structure and who gets payouts: “According to DOJ, the Fund’s rules and procedures may be shielded from the public at the discretion of the Fund’s commissioners. The only person who will receive information about who has received a payout is the Attorney General—provided in a confidential report that is shielded from public scrutiny. As part of this settlement, the President was also granted immunity from pending and future tax liability. This blanket immunity wipes away the potential for a $100 million tax penalty.” The Senators further outline how the Trump v. IRS settlement agreement, and its addendum, were signed by DOJ officials with clear conflicts of interest: “Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who signed the addendum, served as President Trump’s lead criminal defense attorney in multiple matters prior to his current role. He was reportedly advised to recuse himself from any personal matters involving the President shortly after he was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who signed the agreement, represented January 6 th defendants and allies of the President in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.” The Senators likewise emphasize how the settlement agreement in Trump v. IRS improperly immunizes the President from potential tax penalties: “As part of this settlement, the President was also granted immunity from pending and future tax liability. This blanket immunity wipes away the potential for a $100 million tax penalty.” “This settlement agreement and the fund it creates demand accountability,” write the Senators . “Congress mandated that inspectors general be established as ‘independent and objective units’ that ‘prevent and detect fraud and abuse.’ The Fund’s structure, secrecy, and lack of payout criteria, and general arbitrariness, fall well within your authority. We request that the Office of the Inspector General launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation. We also request that any matters deemed to fall outside of OIG’s jurisdiction be promptly referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility for appropriate review. Please also notify our offices by June 2, 2026, of your decision. ” Joining Senator Welch on this letter is Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and fellow Senate Judiciary Democrats Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Cory Booker (N.J.). Read and download the Senators’ full letter to DOJ Acting Inspector General Blier. ###