Justice Department Rejects Judge's Oath Demand on $1.8 Billion Fund
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 19
Justice Department Rejects Judge's Oath Demand on $1.8 Billion Fund
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 19
Summary
A Friday court filing said the Justice Department will not provide sworn statements from top officials that a proposed $1.8 billion fund for alleged victims of political “weaponization” will not go forward.
The department called the judge’s requested declarations unnecessary and argued that forcing such statements from senior officials raises serious separation-of-powers concerns.
A DOJ lawyer said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s congressional testimony and prior court submissions already carry serious penalties for false statements, making an additional oath unwarranted.
The dispute centers on judicial scrutiny of an administration-backed fund and how far a judge can press executive-branch officials for formal assurances.