Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges said Friday that President Donald Trump is “nakedly corrupt” for creating a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” arguing it will finance the same kinds of people who assaulted him during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
“I mean, it’s pretty brazen, nakedly corrupt,” said Hodges on “The Dean Obeidallah Show.” He continued, “But at the same time, it wasn’t surprising, because Trump has been saying for years how he wants to compensate these people who tried to have him installed illegally to stop the transfer of power. ... It’s terrible. It’s awful, but at the same time, you know, not out of character.”
Background of the Fund
Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion in January over the unlawful release of his tax returns, but dropped the suit last week in exchange for a $1.776 billion fund that would pay people who claim to have been unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice. Hodges was among scores of police officers who were assaulted on Jan. 6. He nearly had his eye gouged out and was almost crushed to death in a doorway by MAGA supporters. He later became one of four officers who testified in 2021 at the first congressional inquiry into the riots.
Trump's Pardons and Legal Actions
Trump went on to pardon over 1,500 people charged with crimes related to Jan. 6. Hodges and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn swiftly sued the DOJ last week, alleging the $1.8 billion fund is illegal. Hodges said Friday that attorney Brendan Ballou, who has tried several Jan. 6 cases, asked them if they would be willing to be plaintiffs.
“I said yeah, of course, whatever we can do to help stop this, because it’s terrible,” Hodges told Obeidallah. “It’s a horrible waste of money, even in the best light. And in the worst, it’s giving money to, you know, domestic terrorists for any future crimes that they might want to commit.”
Motives Behind the Fund
Obeidallah went on to ask if the fund is meant to push MAGA into further criminal activity. Hodges replied that “it’s not about making people whole,” since Trump “has already said twice to the media that he doesn’t think at all about Americans’ financial situation” and “everything is transactional with him.”
He continued, “So you have to think about what he’s going to get for this and what he is getting is their loyalty. He’s got this group, this cohort that’s already proven incredible loyalty and willingness to conduct extreme violence in his name.” Hodges argued Trump wants to keep them “on retainer” for “future violence” he might need.
