A top lawyer for the Treasury Department resigned Monday after the Justice Department announced the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to compensate what it described as lawfare victims of the Biden administration.
Brian Morrissey’s departure came hours after the fund was announced as part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service over the leaking of his confidential tax records. The IRS is overseen by the Treasury.
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Morrissey has served the Treasury as a general counsel since October. He was confirmed by the Senate in a 51-47 vote last year after Trump nominated him for the senior role. Before assuming the position, Morrissey worked at the Sidley Austin law firm.
Morrissey wrote in his resignation letter that he was grateful to have worked for Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the past seven months, according to the New York Times. The Trump appointee has not publicly explained the reason for his resignation.
“As General Counsel, Brian Morrissey has served the United States Treasury with both honor and integrity,” a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “We wish him all the best in his next endeavors.”
Following the settlement between Trump and the IRS, the administration set aside $1.776 billion for people allegedly targeted by the Biden-era weaponization of the federal government. Those who may be eligible include some of the roughly 1,500 people prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Trump allies.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will select the victims eligible for the money that the Treasury deposits into an account.
“The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said in a statement. “As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”
The initiative will be financed through the federal Judgment Fund, a permanent congressional appropriation used to pay settlements and legal claims against the government. Successful claimants will get formal apologies and monetary relief from the federal government. The DOJ said there will be “no partisan requirements to file a claim” for the anti-weaponization fund.
DOJ ANNOUNCES $1.776 BILLION ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION’ FUND FOR BIDEN LAWFARE VICTIMS
Trump moved to drop his lawsuit against the IRS after facing scrutiny from a federal judge, who questioned whether the president could sue a federal agency he controlled. The decision came nine days before a hearing at which the judge would have considered dismissing the case for this reason.
The settlement requires the IRS to apologize to Trump, his two oldest sons, and his family business for leaking their tax returns during the president’s first term. The legal agreement does not include any monetary payment or damages.
