Article Summary

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Justice Department from using a new $1.7 billion fund meant to compensate people allegedly targeted by government misuse of legal power, pending review of legal challenges. The lawsuit argues the fund lacks congressional approval and calls it a politically motivated scheme, while the Justice Department insists it's legal and based on past precedents. The article highlights legal disputes and bipartisan concerns but doesn't explain the prior examples the DOJ says justify the fund.