A US judge has said a lawsuit filed against a $1.8 billion compensation fund for President Donald Trump’s political allies can go ahead after administration officials declined to certify that the plan was dead.
District Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered the Trump administration earlier this month to confirm in a sworn statement that it has abandoned the program denounced by critics as a “slush fund” for Trump loyalists.
Brinkema, in an order released on Thursday, said she had not received the requested assurances from the administration, and the suit challenging the fund can move ahead.
“Defendants were offered the opportunity to end this litigation by filing written declarations under the penalty of perjury… that the Fund will not proceed in any manner or under any other name,” the judge said. “Defendants have filed a Notice declining to provide such assurances.”
In a filing with the judge, the administration pointed to remarks
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