A judge ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund was blocked from moving forward, but when the judge's formal ruling was published, it went deeper than ending the fund.
Judge Leonie M. Brinkema wrote: "ORDERED that, to avoid any further litigation in this civil action, defendants Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, Jr., and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent FILE a declaration under the penalty of perjury that they will not take any action to create or operate the Anti-Weaponization Fund, and that the Anti-Weaponization Fund will not proceed in any manner, or under any name. If such a declaration is not filed by June 19, 2026, the Court will issue a Scheduling Order and require defendants to file a responsive pleading by June 17, 2026..."
“You’re a brave man, Mr. Block,” Judge Brinkema told Justice Department attorney Andrew Block at the start of the hearing.
“You think this is lawful business?” the U.S. District Judge asked in the explosive 30-minute hearing, as reported by Adam Klasfeld's "All Rise News."
Just last week, Blanche testified to the House and Senate, promising that the fund wasn't moving forward, but Judge Brinkema took things beyond a simple ruling.
However, The Atlantic reported Thursday evening that " administration is quietly assuring allies that payout plans remain on track."
Legal analysts mocked the text and the judge's effort to add assurances that they'd risk their careers if they ignored the ruling.
"DOJ has one week to put its abandonment of the fund in writing, under oath," pointed out Norm Eisen, whose group Democracy Defenders Action has been regularly suing the administration.
"Judge Brinkema hasn't explained which plaintiff(s) has standing nor on which of their various claims they're likely to succeed. Perhaps an opinion will follow or maybe she's saving that for later, figuring DOJ won't appeal for now," wrote Lawfare's senior editor, Eric Columbus.
Last week, in an interview with News Nation, Blanche said that he is trying to put up "roadblocks" to block Democrats from successfully prosecuting Trump and his administration officials if they win the House and Senate in November.
