President Donald Trump left open the possibility of using taxpayer funds to compensate some participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, drawing immediate criticism from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill.

In a June 8 interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump described his administration’s proposed “anti-weaponization” fund as “a great idea” and declined to rule out payments to rioters convicted of assaulting police officers.

“I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it,” Trump said, repeating claims without evidence that the FBI had set up participants and that the 2020 election was stolen.

The fund, tied to a settlement in Trump’s lawsuit over an IRS leak of his tax returns, was reported at approximately $1.8 billion. It was intended to address claims of government overreach but has been paused amid opposition.

Republican Pushback

Several Republican senators and representatives moved quickly to distance themselves from the idea. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri stated that the fund “should be for people who have had their constitutional rights violated, not who violated other people’s constitutional rights.”

He added, “If you’ve been convicted of assault on a cop … doesn’t seem to me like people who are victims.”

Rep. Nick LaLota, a moderate Republican from New York, said there is no support in Congress for payments to those who committed crimes against police.

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“The concern my constituents and I have is that money possibly going to folks who hit cops,” LaLota said. “Especially when there is video evidence, they shouldn’t get a dime from our government.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who has broken with Trump at times, raised questions about the independence of Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche.

“I need to know if Todd Blanche is an attorney general who used to be the president’s personal attorney, or is he the president’s personal attorney who just happens to be attorney general,” Cassidy said.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, another Republican who has clashed with Trump, highlighted the unique role of the attorney general.

“Being AG is a unique job, because you’re not the president’s lawyer, you’re the chief legal officer for the United States,” Cornyn said. He indicated he would scrutinize Blanche’s approach during confirmation.

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Democrats Move to Block

Democrats condemned the proposal and announced legislative action. Sen. Adam Schiff of California said he plans to introduce a bill this week that would bar anyone convicted of offenses related to the January 6 attack or efforts to interfere in recent elections from receiving federal payouts connected to the Capitol riot.

“The attorney general claims that he is not going to go forward with a slush fund for the Jan. 6 criminals, but the president still wants to see them receive money,” Schiff said. “I want to make sure they can’t use some other mechanism to pay these people off.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, testified last week that the fund was dead.

Trump formally nominated Blanche for the permanent position on Monday. A GOP leadership aide said Republicans are taking Blanche at his word under oath.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana accepted Blanche’s assurance. “I think the attorney general is a man of his word, and I’m very comfortable with what he told us, that there would not be an anti-weaponization fund,” Kennedy said. He described Trump’s continued comments as within the president’s prerogative.

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