A key media ally of President Donald Trump is considering tapping into the Justice Department's newly established $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' which originated from Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. One America News (OAN), a pro-Trump network that promoted false claims about the 2020 presidential election being stolen, is reportedly weighing whether to claim a portion of this taxpayer-funded pool, according to a CNN report.
OAN's Potential Claim
A lawyer for OAN told CNN that the company is 'seriously considering pursuing rights under this fund and will make a decision shortly about whether to file a claim.' This development comes after most major cable providers dropped OAN following its settlement of multiple defamation lawsuits related to 2020 election conspiracies.
Fox News Also Under Scrutiny
CNN also reached out to Fox News to inquire if it would seek a claim under the fund, given that the network settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million, similar to OAN's legal troubles. As of the report, Fox News has not responded.
Eligibility for Jan. 6 Insurrectionists
The report indicated that nearly 1,600 January 6 insurrectionists and 2020 election deniers would be eligible to file claims under the fund. The fund, announced earlier this week by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, faced opposition from both political parties and a swift legal challenge from two police officers injured during the Capitol attack.
Legal Challenge by Capitol Police Officers
Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and former Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges filed a lawsuit arguing that the fund will directly finance far-right extremists. They contend that this violates the 14th Amendment's clause prohibiting the U.S. government from paying any debt or obligation 'incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.'
