Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has called for the immediate resignation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over alleged improper Department of Justice payouts.
The demand follows accusations that taxpayer funds were used to reward FBI agents who faced discipline and to provide financial payouts to individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Such allegations suggest a systemic failure in oversight and the potential misuse of federal resources for political or improper ends.
Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, notified Blanche of his demand on Tuesday, April 2, 2025 [2]. The notification occurred on the same day Blanche made remarks to the press [2].
According to Raskin, the Department of Justice utilized a $1.8 billion slush fund specifically to pay Jan. 6 rioters [1]. He described these actions as institutional fraud and abuse. Raskin said, "I am calling on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to resign immediately because the Department of Justice has used taxpayer money to reward agents who engaged in misconduct and to fund a $1.8 billion slush fund for Jan. 6 rioters" [1].
These allegations coincide with other controversies surrounding the DOJ leadership. Reports indicate that President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi [3]. Additionally, Todd Blanche has faced calls to recuse himself from legal matters involving the president based on advice from the Justice Department's top ethics official [4].
Blanche has also expressed a desire to pivot the department's focus away from certain historical investigations. He said the DOJ should stop focusing on the Epstein files and that they should not be part of anything going forward [3].
The House Judiciary Committee continues to investigate these settlement payouts to determine if federal law was violated in the distribution of the $1.8 billion [1].
“I am calling on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to resign immediately”
The demand for Blanche's resignation highlights a deepening conflict between the House Judiciary Committee and the Department of Justice over the administration of federal settlements. If verified, the use of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Jan. 6 rioters would represent a significant shift in how the U.S. government handles legal restitution, and could lead to protracted legal battles over the legality of those disbursements.
