Washington: Former US Vice President Mike Pence expressed his hope on Sunday that the Trump administration will abandon its proposed ‘anti-weaponization fund,’ which has faced criticism on Capitol Hill and highlighted divisions among Republicans. “The idea of creating a fund that could compensate people who assaulted police officers and vandalized the Capitol that day is totally unacceptable,” Pence stated during an interview on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.
According to Anadolu Agency, the $1.776 billion fund would use taxpayer money to compensate individuals who claim the legal system was ‘weaponized’ against them. The fund emerged as part of a settlement in President Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS. However, it has caused a rift among Republicans, mainly because some Trump supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack have shown interest in filing claims.
The proposal led to a tense meeting among Senate Republicans earlier this month and prompted GOP leaders to abandon plans to fund immigration enforcement. On Sunday, Pence expressed encouragement from Senate Republicans who have publicly opposed the fund, stating, “My hope is the administration will drop it, drop the idea entirely.”
Pence, who was targeted by rioters at the Capitol during the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory on January 6, 2021, emphasized that those who attacked police officers or damaged the Capitol should not receive taxpayer money from the fund or any other source. Senate Republicans have also been seeking details on how the fund would operate, who would qualify for payments, and whether safeguards would be in place to prevent compensation to those who assaulted law enforcement.
Pence pointed out that the Justice Department “can settle these issues where people have had their rights trampled on and ought to do that,” adding, “I welcome that settlement greatly.” A federal judge temporarily barred the Justice Department from proceeding with work on the fund on Friday. Despite this, the Justice Department has expressed confidence in the fund’s legality amidst several challenges to its implementation.
In a broader discussion about the January 6 attack, Pence remarked that he has “certainly seen evidence” that the administration is attempting to whitewash the events of that day. He was “offended on the anniversary of Jan. 6 when the White House put out a timeline that literally blamed Capitol Hill police for the riot that took place that day.” Pence concluded, “I’m very confident of the judgment of history in the years ahead, about our role, about all the Republicans and Democrats who returned that day after Capitol Police secured the Capitol, and we all did our duty under the Constitution. There’s clearly been an effort by some to rewrite that history, but I don’t expect it’ll work.”