Judge scolds feds over discovery dispute in slush fund case

A federal magistrate judge in Alexandria scolded Justice Department attorneys Friday for stonewalling discovery in a lawsuit over the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, telling DOJ counsel Andrew Block that the rules apply no matter who is running the show.

The fund traces back to a settlement of Trump's own $10 billion lawsuit against his administration over disclosure of his tax returns, and is now being challenged by former prosecutor Andrew Floyd. Democracy Forward attorneys say DOJ has refused even basic document requests, waiting until deadlines to object rather than negotiating in good faith.

Attorney General Todd Blanche has called the fund dead, while Trump keeps defending it publicly — a discrepancy the judge did not address but the litigation makes hard to ignore. Judge Davis gave both sides a week to work out their differences, while Block separately seeks dismissal, arguing plaintiffs are suing over a fund that 'has never existed and will not exist.'

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