A Republican congressman defended President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" on Wednesday, after facing tough questions from constituents about federal spending. Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) told CNN's Brianna Keilar that while he opposes funding for Jan. 6 insurrectionists, he believes other Americans have been unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice.
Flood's Defense of the Fund
"Has there been weaponization in the past of the Department of Justice? I think the answer to that is yes. Do I approve of the money going to anybody that was assaulting law enforcement, or anybody that ever assaults law enforcement? No," Flood said. He emphasized that the fund should not benefit those who attacked police during the Capitol riot.
However, Flood argued that other groups, including "pro-life Americans, parents wanting to have a say in their education in front of the school board, and even Republican groups like Turning Point USA," have been targeted by the DOJ. "This was an issue in the 2024 election," he noted. "Should they be compensated for what they endured? Absolutely."
Constituent Concerns
Flood's stance follows a contentious town hall where constituents grilled him on federal spending. One attendee listed various expenditures, including "the Iran war, the White House ballroom, security for the White House ballroom, immigration enforcement, Trump arch ... the reflecting pool renovations, slush fund for crooks, and the Farm Bill," asking how the government would pay for them.
Flood responded, "We pay for it by making decisions," prompting a heckler to chant, "Tax the rich!" Flood replied, "So your solution is to tax the rich," as the crowd cheered.
Oversight and Eligibility
Flood told Keilar that congressional oversight of the DOJ fund will be implemented, though details remain unclear. "I know that I, as one member of the House of Representatives, am willing and looking forward to sitting down and talking about how it will work," he said.
The DOJ announced the fund earlier this month, describing it as a mechanism to "provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare." Vice President JD Vance and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche have indicated that Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump would be eligible for payouts, a move Flood opposes. "That is not something that I agree with. I didn't agree with the pardons that were issued at the time, but we've moved on," he stated.
Republicans recently abandoned plans to pass a bill funding immigration enforcement due to disagreements over the cost of Trump's ballroom and slush fund.
