U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the Trump Administration on June 1 for establishing a nearly $2 billion Department of Justice fund that he said would benefit January 6 insurrectionists and political allies. Durbin delivered his remarks during a speech on the Senate floor in Washington.
Durbin said the so-called “anti-weaponization” fund is unpopular even among President Trump’s supporters in the Senate. He pointed out that Senate Republicans left Washington last month to avoid voting on the measure and missed their own deadline to pass a reconciliation bill funding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
“Today is June 1, the arbitrary deadline President Trump imposed on congressional Republicans to send their partisan funding bill to his desk for signature. So why aren’t our Republican colleagues heading to the White House today for a flashy bill signing ceremony to fund more abuses by ICE?… Because two weeks ago, Senate Republicans left town after an internal revolt over the President’s so-called ‘anti-weaponization’ fund—a nearly $1.8 billion—that’s more than the ballroom—slush fund for the President’s cronies and allies,” Durbin said.
Durbin cited Brandon Fellows as an example of those eligible for payouts from this fund, describing him as an insurrectionist pardoned by President Trump who is seeking $30 million from it: “Who would be eligible for any part of the $1.8 billion fund? People like Brandon Fellows… He was pardoned by President Trump, with a full and unconditional presidential pardon, for being one of the January 6 insurrectionists who was convicted and sentenced on felony and misdemeanor charges… Has he shown any remorse since he was convicted of that crime? No.”
The senator argued that while Americans face economic challenges such as rising costs due to tariffs or conflict abroad, “the President wants to hand lofty payouts to his political buddies and criminals who attacked our democracy.” He also said that under a settlement agreement, “the IRS is permanently barred from auditing past tax returns of President Trump, his family, and related companies.”
Durbin concluded: “Senate Democrats will continue to fight this unprecedented and unacceptable $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 insurrectionists and Trump loyalists… ready to have a serious, bipartisan negotiation about reforms to our immigration system.” The Senate Judiciary Committee oversees federal law enforcement activities including judicial nominations; it influences constitutional protections nationwide through its legislative responsibilities, according to its official website.