00:02Two police officers who fought to defend the U.S. Capitol on January 6th are now suing the Trump administration.
00:09They're trying to block a nearly $2 billion fund they believe could end up paying rioters.
00:14Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday
00:21challenging the administration's new anti-weaponization fund.
00:25The program was created as part of a settlement between President Trump and the government
00:30after he agreed to drop his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax records.
00:35In the lawsuit, they write, quote,
00:37In the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century,
00:41President Donald J. Trump has created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund
00:48to finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name.
00:53The officers argue the money could reward people who took part in the Capitol attack,
00:58including groups that led the breach of the building.
01:01The suit also argues the fund violates the Constitution and points to the 14th Amendment,
01:07which states, quote,
01:08Neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation
01:13incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.
01:17The Justice Department has defended the program,
01:20saying it is open to anyone who believes they were targeted by a weaponized legal system
01:26during the Biden presidency, not just January 6th defendants.
01:29Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also refused this week
01:33to rule out the possibility that some January 6th defendants could apply for payments.
01:40The Justice Department is mindfulness and trials.
01:41The Justice Department
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