NBC News: Lawmakers targeted by DOJ over social video move to block 'slush fund' for Trump allies
Four Democratic House members who were targeted by the Trump administration over a social media video that the president disliked have introduced legislation to permanently block his allies who claim they are victims of "weaponization" from receiving taxpayer-funded payouts.
Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H. — all of whom the Trump administration attempted to indict earlier this year — introduced the "Drain the Slush Fund Act" in the House.
A federal grand jury in Washington in February rejected the attempt to indict the House members along with Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan over a "Don't Give Up the Ship" video that encouraged members of the military and intelligence communities not to obey unlawful orders. Kelly and Slotkin have already introduced the Senate version of the "Drain the Slush Fund Act" alongside Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
“Donald Trump built a slush fund to give your tax dollars to cop beaters & convicted criminals, ” Crow said in a statement. “While working families pay more for gas, groceries, and healthcare, he wants to give your hard-earned money to Tina Peters & the Proud Boys. It’s disgusting, Americans deserve better, and Congress must stop this from ever becoming a possibility. ”
“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to reward political allies, punish perceived opponents, or advance any president’s personal agenda," Houlahan said. "Federal settlement funds belong to the American people and should be used to serve the public interest—not bankroll partisan schemes."
“Giving public money to cop-beaters and oath-breaking insurrectionists should have never been on the table in the first place,” Deluzio said.
“We will not stand by while President Trump attempts to usurp American taxpayer dollars for corrupt presidential payouts and backwards backdoor deals,” Goodlander said.
A federal judge had put a pause on the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund," and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said it is not moving forward. But Trump has said he loves the idea of the fund and would pay people "the kind of money that they deserve."
The Justice Department has other mechanisms for giving out taxpayer dollars even without the "anti-weaponization fund."