UMVA has learned that a stunning development has left Democrats outraged, as the Department of Justice has set up a $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of the alleged weaponization of the federal government.
This fund is part of a settlement with the IRS over President Donald Trump’s targeting by the agency, and it's a move that's left many scratching their heads - especially given the Democrats' typical stance on such issues.
One notable example of a victim who may benefit from this fund is Michael Caputo, former spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services in the first Trump administration, whose life was shattered by the fruitless and politically driven Russia collusion investigations.
Caputo and his family were crushed by legal fees, constant legal appearances, and serious reputational damage, and in retrospect, given the lack of evidence of Russian collusion, the process looks like a gross miscarriage of justice.
"Our family was caught totally by surprise in March 2017 and from House to Senate to Mueller interrogations, each of my daughters was torn apart differently," Caputo recounted. "My wife, our rock, held it all together until she couldn’t. When my cancer hit, everything exploded."
Caputo's case highlights a glaring double standard, as Democrats often rush to defend those accused or convicted of crimes - such as the Central Park Five, who received a $41 million settlement for being wrongly accused.
But when it comes to Republicans like Caputo, who were targeted for their connection to Trump, the Democrats seem to be suddenly tough on crime - or at least, they claim to be.
The truth is that prosecutors can and do cross the line from making honest mistakes in investigations to targeting people for illegitimate reasons, such as politics - and the abusive lawfare exercised against Caputo and others in the Trump orbit is a prime example.
As figures like former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page made clear in their infamous text messages, there was a concerted effort to destroy Trump and his allies - a clear violation of their victims' civil rights.
But now, with the announcement of the $1.8 billion fund, Caputo and others like him may finally get some measure of justice - and a chance to rebuild their shattered lives.
"Across eight years of constant surveillance, our family never lost faith in President Trump and his team," Caputo said. "We knew better, and my girls especially love and trust the first lady."
The fund's impact will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and while there may be close calls, Caputo's case is a slam dunk - a clear example of a victim who deserves compensation for their mistreatment at the hands of the government.
Ultimately, the government must be held accountable for its actions, and this new fund is a crucial step in that direction - a way to ensure that such abuses of power never happen again.
