Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from fund

National Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from fund May 21, 20262:54 AM ET By  The Associated Press FILE - Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. John Minchillo/AP hide caption toggle caption John Minchillo/AP WASHINGTON — Two police officers who helped defend the U.S. Capitol from an attack by a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters sued on Wednesday to block anyone — including Jan. 6, 2021, rioters — from receiving payouts from a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for people who claim to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions. Law Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche defends new $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund The officers' attorneys filed the federal lawsuit a day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund's creation during a congressional hearing. Blanche, a personal attorney for Trump before joining the Justice Department, wouldn't rule out the possibility that rioters who assaulted police on Jan. 6 would be eligible for fund payouts. The lawsuit claims the government's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is an illegal slush fund that Trump will use to "finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name." It describes the fund's creation as "the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century" and calls for dissolving it. Sponsor Message "No statute authorizes its creation, the settlement on which it is premised is a corrupt sham, and its design violates the Constitution and federal law," the suit says. The fund stems from a settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. It's designed to compensate those who believe they were mistreated by prior administrations' Justice Department. Decisions on payouts will be made by a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general. More than 100 police officers were injured during the Capitol riot. Nearly 1,6...