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The IRS won't investigate the past tax returns of President Trump, his family or his businesses. That's part of a settlement signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, ending a lawsuit brought by the president against his own government. Blanche spent much of a Senate hearing Tuesday defending that settlement and its creation of a fund to pay people who claim they were targets of politicized prosecutions. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
RYAN LUCAS, BYLINE: The nearly $1.8 billion pot of taxpayer money dubbed the anti-weaponization fund by the Justice Department was created as part of a settlement agreement with President Trump, who, in return, dropped his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Democrats had blunt words for Blanche about the arrangement. Here's Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen.
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CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Mr. Attorney General, this is an outrageous, unprecedented slush fund that you've set up.
LUCAS: And Washington Senator Patty Murray.
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PATTY MURRAY: This is corruption that has never been more blatant or more widespread. What is happening is you write the check, Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers, who are already being whacked with high prices, are going to foot the bill.
LUCAS: Under the agreement, the fund will be administered by a five-member commission who will decide who receives payouts and in what amount. Four of the commissioners will be appointed by the attorney general, while a fifth will be appointed by the attorney general in consultation with Congress. President Trump can remove any commissioner at any time. In his testimony, Blanche defended the setup and said it was unusual but necessary.
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TODD BLANCHE: There is an unprecedented nature of what we did yesterday in response to years and years of weaponization.
LUCAS: He pointed to the multiple indictments against President Trump after his first term in office, including the two federal cases against him for mishandling classified documents and attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Blanche served as Trump's personal defense attorney in both of those cases. Democrats and a few Republicans pressed Blanche on who would be eligible for payments out of the fund. In response, Blanche said it's open to anyone who believes they were a victim of weaponization.
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BLANCHE: It's not limited to Republicans. It's not limited to Democrats. It's not limited to January 6 defendants. It's limited only by the term weaponization.
LUCAS: Under questioning, Blanche would not rule out potential payments to Trump campaign donors or January 6 Capitol rioters, including people convicted of violently assaulting police. Trump himself will not receive a direct payout from the fund, but the IRS is barred from pursuing any claims or actions against him, his family or businesses now or in the future.
Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
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