Trump Administration backs off anti-weaponization fund

(NBC, KYMA) - The Trump Administration signaled Monday it is backing off on the creation of a $1.8 billion fund, announced by the Justice Department (DOJ), that could send money to allies of President Donald Trump deemed to be victims of lawfare and weaponization.

It comes after a fierce and rare backlash from Senate Republicans, who threatened to team up with Democrats to block the fund.

About half the Republican conference appeared ready to vote with Democrats to restrict or kill it, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said last week.

In a statement, the DOJ cited a Friday ruling by a federal judge that blocked the fund on a temporary basis, saying it "disagrees strongly" but will "abide by the court's ruling."

The judge had only issued an order that temporarily blocked DOJ from taking any further actions on the fund until the court more fully assesses the arguments from both parties; it did not permanently block the fund.

A hearing on the issue had been set for June 12.

The order came after a Jan. 6 prosecutor who was fired by the Trump Administration, and others, sued to challenge the fund in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The head of the group that filed that suit, Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, said Monday it would be a "major victory" if the Trump Administration was "abandoning its illegal slush fund," but said they would continue challenging for the time being.