Jan. 6 Officers Sue to Block Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund

Two Capitol Police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack are suing to stop former President Donald Trump from using a fund to pay the people who assaulted them. Officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges argue that the fund, called the Anti-Weaponization of the Federal Government Fund, is unconstitutional and could be used to compensate Jan. 6 rioters who attacked them. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks to prevent Trump from distributing money from the fund to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol breach. The officers claim the fund violates the Constitution's Appropriations Clause and the principle of separation of powers. The fund was created by Trump's allies to support legal defenses for those involved in the Jan. 6 events. Dunn and Hodges were among the officers who testified before the House select committee investigating the attack, describing the violence they endured. The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement officials who protected the Capitol and those who seek to support the rioters.