Van Hollen Announces Amendment to Block Members of Congress from Receiving Payouts from DOJ Slush Fund

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), announced that he will be introducing an amendment to the Republican reconciliation bill to prevent current or former Members of Congress from receiving a payout from the Trump Administration’s slush fund created by the Department of Justice. The Senator will be pressing for a vote on his amendment during the reconciliation process expected to take place this week as Republicans seek to pass their legislation to fund ICE and CBP without guardrails. Senator Van Hollen’s amendment follows his exchange Tuesday with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during the CJS Subcommittee budget and oversight hearing of the Department of Justice and his announcement yesterday of his intent to introduce an amendment to prevent violent criminals, including those who assaulted police officers, and child molesters from receiving a payout from the slush fund. “The Trump Department of Justice’s creation of this $1.8 billion slush fund is a gross abuse of taxpayer dollars. And as it currently stands, Members of Congress have the chance to benefit from this corrupt scheme. If Republicans won’t put an end to this fund entirely, they should at least join with us to bar Members of Congress from cashing in on it,” said Senator Van Hollen.