John Kennedy: Would not give Trump 'a blank check' on anti-weaponization fund legislation
The Hill · C · trust 39/100
“In terms of the weaponization fund, the president himself has conceded that it will take legislation. I’m glad he conceded that,” Kennedy told host Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Trump on Saturday threatened to “push hard” on a bill codifying the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, which the Justice Department (DOJ) initially created as part of the president’s settlement agreement with the Internal Revenue Service.
The DOJ ditched the fund in early June, just weeks after unveiling it, after numerous Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about and multiple federal judges took issue with the circumstances of its creation — pointing out that Trump sued his own government in the first place.
Kennedy, a lawyer and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted individuals who believe the federal government has wronged them already have “access” to a “pool of money” for potential restitution via the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
Under the 1946 law, individuals can sue the government if a federal employee wrongfully or negligently injures them or their property.
“If [Trump] wants to improve it, I’m willing to look at it,” Kennedy told Welker, referring to the FTCA. “But I’m not going to give him a blank check.”
The Louisiana Republican specifically took issue with those convicted of attacking police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol seeking compensation from the government.
“If somebody thinks they were abused by the federal government when they were punished, by attacking the Capitol in a riot that got totally out of control, right now they have the right to file a Federal Tort Claims Act against the federal government, and a federal judge will decide,” Kennedy noted. “And I would take that issue completely off the table.”
Trump’s push for the anti-weaponization fund has imperiled his nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent role .
Outgoing GOP Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) have opposed advancing Blanche’s nomination out of the Judiciary panel to the full Senate floor over the fund — which forced committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to cancel a scheduled meeting for Thursday to consider Blanche.
While Kennedy noted that discussions between Tillis, Cornyn and Trump administration officials are ongoing, he expressed uncertainty about whether those would bear fruit regarding Blanche’s nomination.
“I don’t know if they’ll reach a deal,” he told Welker. “Frankly, I think the odds are against it. I wouldn’t bet my house on it. And if I were betting your house, it would just be a maybe.”
Read the original at The Hill →
Open in TruthVane →