Bennet, Pettersen, Hickenlooper Demand Answers as Trump Administration Pursues Potential Payouts for January 6 Defendants and Election Deniers

Jun 12, 2026 | Press Releases

The letter follows reports that January 6 defendants are pursuing compensation through the Federal Tort Claims Act as Trump refuses to provide proof his slush fund was terminated.

Denver - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, joined U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen and Senator John Hickenlooper to demand a full accounting of the Trump Administration's so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and any alternative efforts to compensate January 6 defendants, election deniers, or individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Tina Peters.

The lawmakers' letter follows reports that attorneys representing hundreds of January 6 defendants have filed claims seeking compensation from the federal government despite the fact that the administration claimed that the fund is no longer moving forward. Yet, Trump has failed to provide any written confirmation that the slush fund has been terminated or disclose who applied for compensation, whether any payments were approved, or how taxpayer dollars may have been used.

"Despite repeated assurances that you are 'not moving forward with the fund,' your agencies have produced no written confirmation of its closure, no legal justification for its existence, and no accounting of who applied, what was promised, or whether taxpayer dollars were ever committed. The absence of even the most basic materials - coupled with conflicting statements from the Administration - raises a serious concern: that the fund was used, or intended to be used, to financially reward individuals involved in the January 6 attack or those who amplified false claims of a stolen election," wrote the lawmakers.

"These concerns have only intensified in light of public statements from individuals who applied for compensation and now describe the fund as merely a 'brief distraction' while they pursue payouts through other channels. The opacity surrounding this program has not lessened; it has deepened. And it has fueled legitimate fears that the fund, and the legal rationales underlying it, may have been - or could still be - used to support individuals whose actions undermined democratic institutions or threatened public safety, including through meritless claims brought by January 6 defendants and taxpayer-funded payments to rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers," continued the lawmakers.

The letter requests a complete accounting of:

• All individuals or entities who applied for compensation through the Anti-Weaponization Fund;
• Any payments that were approved, denied, or disbursed;
• Documents related to the creation, administration, and purported closure of the fund;
• Communications between the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, IRS, and the White House regarding the fund;
• Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claims filed by January 6 defendants and individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election; and
• Any discussions regarding potential settlements or payouts for individuals claiming to be victims of "weaponization."

Bennet has consistently fought against Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund. In June 2026, Bennet led Democratic members of the Subcommittee in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano, demanding answers on the settlement addendum reached with President Trump that prevents the Department of Justice from bringing any action or pursuing any tax audit into previous returns filed by Trump, his family members, or affiliated companies. Bennet also filed amendments during the budget reconciliation process to eliminate the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," block Donald Trump's corrupt Department of Justice (DOJ) settlement that shields him and his family from tax audits, and prevent any future administration from creating similar schemes. In May 2026, Bennet demanded an investigation and vowed to file an amendment to block Trump's corrupt settlement with the DOJ.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Bessent, Acting Attorney General Blanche, and Chief Executive Officer Bisignano:

We write to demand the immediate production of all records related to the creation, administration, and purported termination of the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund, as well as any records indicating whether the Administration has considered or used the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) as an alternative vehicle for compensating individuals who might have applied to the fund. Despite repeated assurances that you are "not moving forward with the fund," your agencies have produced no written confirmation of its closure, no legal justification for its existence, and no accounting of who applied, what was promised, or whether taxpayer dollars were ever committed.1 The absence of even the most basic materials - coupled with conflicting statements from the Administration - raises a serious concern: that the fund was used, or intended to be used, to financially reward individuals involved in the January 6 attack or those who amplified false claims of a stolen election, and that the Administration is hoping to provide additional avenues to effectuate that intent. Such conduct would represent an extraordinary abuse of public resources and a breach of the public trust.

These concerns have only intensified in light of public statements from individuals who applied for compensation and now describe the fund as merely a "brief distraction" while they pursue payouts through other channels.2 The opacity surrounding this program has not lessened; it has deepened. And it has fueled legitimate fears that the fund, and the legal rationales underlying it, may have been - or could still be - used to support individuals whose actions undermined democratic institutions or threatened public safety, including through meritless claims brought by January 6 defendants and taxpayer-funded payments to rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers.

Recent reporting shows that attorneys representing hundreds of January 6 defendants have already begun filing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The precedent your agencies have set, suggesting that January 6 rioters, election deniers, and others advancing baseless allegations of "weaponization" are entitled to financial remedies at taxpayer expense, is indefensible. The Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot and must not use existing legal mechanisms to accomplish the same objectives as the Anti-Weaponization Fund, even if the fund itself has been quietly abandoned.

This is not hypothetical. One attorney has already filed FTCA claims for "some 200" clients.3 Another has filed for "roughly 400" more.4 The Anti-Weaponization Fund was an unauthorized and inappropriate vehicle for financial rewards. Using the FTCA to achieve the same ends is equally corrupt.

Given the extraordinary nature of this fund, the Administration's inconsistent public statements, the surge of FTCA filings by individuals convicted of serious offenses, and the DOJ's refusal to provide written confirmation of the fund's termination, your agencies must immediately produce a full accounting of how this fund was created, administered, and ostensibly terminated - and whether the Justice Department believes FTCA claims to be a suitable avenue for pursuing relief for unenumerated instances of "weaponization." Anything less would constitute a failure of transparency and a dereliction of your duty to safeguard taxpayer resources.

Accordingly, please provide the following information no later than July 12, 2026:

1. A complete list of all individuals or entities who applied for compensation from the Anti-Weaponization Fund, including the date of each application and the status of each request.
2. All documents, communications, and materials reflecting whether any payments were approved, denied, or disbursed, including the amount, date, and justification for each decision.
3. All documents, communications, and internal memoranda relating to the decision to declare the fund "done," "closed," or otherwise terminated, including any legal or administrative analysis supporting that determination.
4. All documents, communications, and materials describing eligibility requirements, review standards, or internal guidance used to evaluate claims, including any changes to such criteria over time.
5. Any documents, communications, and internal memoranda concerning the creation, administration, or termination of the fund, including whether any individuals involved in its oversight had personal, political, or financial ties to potential applicants.
6. All communications between the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, or any White House office regarding the fund's creation, administration, or closure.
7. A complete list of all individuals or entities who have filed FTCA claims in connection with their efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the date of each application and the status or disposition of each request.

Our constituents have a right to immediate explanations about this fund's genesis and reported conclusion. Full disclosure is not optional. It is the minimum required to ensure that no federal program is used to reward political allies, excuse misconduct, or circumvent established legal processes. We look forward to complete and thorough answers to the above.

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