Hunter Biden Can Apply to Trump Anti-Weaponization Fund-Todd Blanche

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Hunter Biden is eligible to apply for President Donald Trump's new anti-weaponization fund during his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday

Blanche defended the fund, which had been announced one day earlier as part of a deal to end the Trump administration's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The plan has drawn bipartisan criticism on the Hill, as both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns.

During the committee hearing, Blanche said there are no partisan restrictions on the fund, citing Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, as an example of someone who could apply.

"Whether you're Hunter Biden or another individual who believed they were a victim of weaponization, they can all apply for this fund," he said.

He added that applying for the fund does not necessarily mean commissioners will agree to reward them or that they'll receive funding; it just means they can apply.

Newsweek reached out to Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell for comment via email.

Trump Administration’s Anti-Weaponization Fund: What to Know

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the fund in a statement on Monday, describing it as a "systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare."

The fund would have the authority to issue formal apologies and award monetary relief to claimants, and there are no partisan requirements. It will receive $1.776 billion from the judgment fund tied to the IRS lawsuit, the DOJ said.

Blanche said the DOJ is "setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress."

But the fund has drawn bipartisan criticism. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said he is “not a big fan” of the fund, reported CNN.

Why Was Hunter Biden Charged?

Hunter Biden was set to be sentenced in two separate criminal cases-a felony gun charge and federal tax fraud-but was pardoned before his father left office. Biden was convicted of three separate felony charges related to the 2018 purchase of a revolver in June 2024. He also pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges in September.

Prosecutors accused him of lying about his status as a drug user when purchasing a firearm in 2018. Section 922(g)(3) of the United States Code says it is against the law for anyone who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” to possess a firearm.

This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 11:04 AM.