Trending Now - Judge to Examine Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund Amid Controversy

WHO:

CBS News - Vice President JD Vance stated that Tina Peters is set to be released from prison on June 1 after her sentence was commuted earlier this month.

Forbes - George Santos, a former Republican congressman, was sentenced to seven years in prison for wire fraud and identity theft before being pardoned by Trump after less than three months.

Forbes - Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, stated he has started working on his application for the fund.

Forbes - Mark McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges for pointing guns at protesters, is considering applying for the fund.

Forbes - Sam Nunberg, a former Trump campaign aide, plans to seek a payout from the fund over a subpoena he received in the investigation into Russian coordination with the Trump campaign.

Alternet - 35 former federal judges urged a judge to re-examine the terms of the settlement related to Trump's lawsuit against the IRS.

CBS News - Vice President JD Vance stated that Tina Peters could receive money from the fund.

NPR - U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Florida; U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia; 35 former federal judges; Trump; Trump administration lawyers; Andrew Floyd, former Justice Department lawyer; Adam Zimmerman, law professor at the University of Southern California.

WHAT:

NBC News Politics - Mike Pence expressed hope that the Trump administration will drop the $1.8 billion fund, calling it "deeply offensive" and a "bad idea."

The Washington Post - GOP lawmakers are seeking to rein in Trump’s $1.8 billion payout fund, which aims to compensate those who claim wrongful targeting by the Justice Department.

CBS News - A judge has temporarily halted the Justice Department from moving forward with the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" while considering a legal challenge.

Forbes - The fund is designed to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

NPR - U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered Trump's lawyers to respond to a motion filed by 35 former federal judges questioning the legitimacy of the fund, stating the court is "empowered to investigate serious misconduct."

NPR - U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema set a June 12 hearing to determine whether the order to freeze the fund should be extended.

Forbes - The fund was created as part of a settlement of Trump's civil lawsuit against the IRS, which involved dropping two separate civil claims related to the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago and the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Forbes - A five-member commission will be established to determine compensation amounts for applicants, with Trump having the power to fire members at his discretion.

Forbes - The fund will remain active through the end of Trump’s term, and any leftover money would go to an agency of Trump’s choosing.

Forbes - Michael Caputo, a former Health and Human Services spokesperson, is the first known applicant to the fund, seeking $2.7 million for being unfairly targeted by an FBI investigation.

Forbes - George Santos, a former Republican congressman, is considering applying for the fund but wants a formal apology from the government rather than a monetary settlement.

Forbes - Roger Stone, who was pardoned by Trump, believes he would be entitled to make a claim from the fund but wants to see the criteria first.

Forbes - Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, plans to apply for the fund, claiming his companies lost money due to election-related lawsuits.

Forbes - Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, stated he believes he is owed "somewhere in the mid-tens of millions" of dollars from the fund.

Forbes - Adam Johnson, who was photographed carrying Nancy Pelosi's lectern during the January 6 attack, announced his intention to pursue a claim from the fund.

Forbes - Meshawn Maddock, a former Michigan GOP representative accused of signing fake certificates, expressed that the fund was an "emotional relief."

Forbes - John Eastman, a disbarred lawyer, is considering applying for the fund but wants more details first.

Forbes - A five-member commission will be established to determine compensation amounts for applicants, with Trump having the power to fire members at his discretion.

NBC News Politics - Mike Pence called the DOJ's anti-weaponization fund "deeply offensive" and a "bad idea."

CBS News - Tina Peters was convicted in 2024 for tampering with election equipment and sentenced to nine years in prison.

CBS News - A judge has stopped the Justice Department from moving forward with the new $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund."

CBS News - The fund was created as part of a settlement of Trump's civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

CBS News - The Justice Department states that individuals who feel they were unfairly targeted by the Biden administration could apply for payments from the fund.

NPR - A federal judge will review Trump's nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund."

NPR - The fund was established following Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

NPR - The lawsuit was described by former judges as a "fraud on the court."

NPR - A judge temporarily froze the fund, ordering Trump officials to stop setting it up to "ensure that no funds are irreversibly disbursed."

NPR - A June 12 hearing is set for arguments over whether the order to freeze the fund should be extended.

NPR - Critics describe the fund as a slush fund for Trump supporters, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

WHERE:

NPR - The review is taking place in Florida; the freeze order was issued in Virginia.

WHEN:

Forbes - A June 12 hearing is scheduled to determine whether the order to freeze the fund should be extended.

Forbes - A hearing regarding the fund is scheduled for June 12.

NPR - A June 12 hearing is scheduled to determine whether the order to freeze the fund should be extended.

CBS News - Tina Peters is set to be released from prison on Monday after her sentence was commuted earlier this month.

NPR - A June 12 hearing is scheduled regarding the fund.

WHY:

Alternet - Critics argue that the fund is seen as a way to reward Trump supporters, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

NBC News Politics - Mike Pence described the fund as "deeply offensive" and a "bad idea," expressing hope that the administration will drop it.

Forbes - Critics argue that the fund "rewards and incentivizes unlawful behavior and facilitates an astounding abuse of taxpayer funds."

Alternet - Critics argue that the fund is seen as a way to reward Trump supporters, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

CBS News - A group of plaintiffs, including several nonprofit organizations and a former federal prosecutor, filed a lawsuit arguing that the fund is a "collusive agreement" between Trump and his administration.

NPR - The fund was established as a settlement to Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, which was questioned by former judges as being a justification for the "looting" of American taxpayers.

NPR - Legal experts expressed alarm over the fund's lack of oversight and its connection to Trump's claims against the IRS.

HOW:

Forbes - The commission overseeing the fund will assess the “totality of the circumstances” for each applicant, including damages, attorney fees, and punishment already served.

Forbes - The commission overseeing the fund will assess the “totality of the circumstances” for each applicant, including damages and attorney fees, and judicial reviews or appeals of payouts are prohibited.

Forbes - The commission will assess the “totality of the circumstances” for each applicant, including damages, attorney fees, punishment already served, and any form of relief. Judicial reviews or appeals of the payouts are prohibited.

NPR - The judge ordered Trump's lawyers to respond to the motion filed by the former judges questioning the legitimacy of the fund.

CBS News - The judge wants more time to consider the legal challenge regarding the fund.

NPR - Trump's lawyers were ordered to respond to a motion filed by former federal judges questioning the legitimacy of the fund.

NPR - The fund was described as being set up to compensate Trump allies and others he claims have been unjustly targeted.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 23:15 UTC)

Vice President JD Vance announced that Tina Peters is set to be released from prison on June 1 after her sentence was commuted earlier this month. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are pushing to rein in Trump’s controversial $1.8 billion payout fund, which critics argue rewards Trump supporters, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, and a hearing on whether to extend the freeze on this fund is scheduled for June 12. In related news, Mike Pence has voiced his disapproval of the fund, calling it "deeply offensive" and a "bad idea."

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 21:14 UTC)

A judge has temporarily halted the Justice Department from moving forward with the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund," which aims to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. Notable figures like Michael Cohen, Mark McCloskey, and Sam Nunberg are considering applying for the fund, while a hearing regarding its future is scheduled for June 12. Mike Pence has criticized the fund as "deeply offensive" and hopes the administration will reconsider its implementation.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 19:17 UTC)

A U.S. District Judge has ordered Trump’s lawyers to respond to a motion from 35 former federal judges questioning the legitimacy of a fund created as part of a settlement in Trump's civil lawsuit against the IRS. Another judge has scheduled a hearing for June 12 to decide whether to extend the order freezing the fund, which will remain active through the end of Trump’s term and allows him to appoint and fire members of a five-member commission that will determine compensation amounts for applicants. Critics argue that the fund incentivizes unlawful behavior and misuses taxpayer funds, while the commission will evaluate each application based on various factors, with no judicial reviews or appeals allowed for the payouts.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 17:17 UTC)

Michael Caputo, a former Health and Human Services spokesperson, has become the first known applicant for a new fund, seeking $2.7 million after claiming he was unfairly targeted by an FBI investigation. Meanwhile, a June 12 hearing is set to decide if the order to freeze the fund will be extended, as several individuals, including George Santos and Mike Lindell, express their intentions to apply for compensation. Additionally, a five-member commission will be formed to assess claims, with Trump holding the authority to dismiss its members at will.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 15:18 UTC)

A group of 35 former federal judges has urged a judge to re-examine the terms of the settlement related to Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, while the judge has ordered Trump's lawyers to respond to this motion. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance indicated that Tina Peters, who was convicted in 2024 for tampering with election equipment and sentenced to nine years in prison, could receive money from a fund, which critics claim is a way to reward Trump supporters. Peters is set to be released from prison on Monday after her sentence was commuted earlier this month.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 06:18 UTC)

A judge has halted the Justice Department's plans to proceed with the new $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund," which was established as part of a settlement in Trump's civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. This decision comes after a group of plaintiffs, including several nonprofit organizations and a former federal prosecutor, filed a lawsuit claiming the fund represents a "collusive agreement" between Trump and his administration. The judge has requested additional time to evaluate the legal challenge surrounding the fund.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 04:17 UTC)

A federal judge will review Trump's nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund," which was established following his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. The fund has faced scrutiny, with former judges labeling the lawsuit a "fraud on the court," and a judge has temporarily frozen the fund to prevent any irreversible disbursements, with a hearing scheduled for June 12 to discuss extending this freeze. Critics argue that the fund serves as a slush fund for Trump supporters, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, raising concerns about its oversight and legitimacy.