By May 20, 2026 / 7:12 PM EDT / CBS News
A Republican lawyer closely allied with Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney, has submitted a request to the Justice Department to join a panel responsible for dispensing over $1.7 billion. This fund aims to provide compensation to individuals claiming they were victims of legal “weaponization,” as revealed in a letter obtained by CBS News.
On Wednesday evening, lawyer Mike Howell addressed a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declaring his intent to pursue a position on the five-member commission overseeing the anti-weaponization fund. Blanche holds the responsibility for appointing the commission members, as per a memo he signed earlier in the week. The fund announcement follows a settlement of a $10 billion lawsuit that President Trump initiated against the Internal Revenue Service for releasing his tax returns.
Howell’s letter includes his experience testifying before legislative bodies and appearing on national media to highlight cases involving ordinary Americans whom federal law enforcement targeted due to their political views, faith, and exercise of constitutional rights. He conveyed his commitment to his advocacy efforts and the intention to continue his mission.
If chosen, Howell would assume a significant role in overseeing claims submitted to the fund, which the DOJ plans to operate through 2028. Howell is an ally of Ed Martin, the DOJ’s pardon attorney, who championed more than 1,500 pardons or commutations for individuals implicated in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
From outside the government, Howell managed Martin’s Senate confirmation process to be U.S. attorney for D.C., a position Martin temporarily held but ultimately didn’t secure. Howell, based in Washington, D.C., leads a conservative group called the Oversight Project, investigating alleged government weaponization. He also serves as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s border security and immigration center.
In a statement to CBS News, Howell described the anti-weaponization fund as historic and expressed his readiness to contribute to its success.
“The anti-weaponization fund is a historic step by President Trump and Acting Attorney General Blanche,” Howell stated, adding, “I am ready to make sure it is a success.”
The Justice Department did not reply to requests for comment on the matter. Howell’s letter marks the first documented attempt to join the commission. CNN earlier reported that Michael Caputo, a former Trump adviser, submitted the first request for compensation, seeking $2.7 million in restitution for being targeted by the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The fund announcement signifies President Trump’s ongoing efforts to support his followers—initially through clemencies for January 6 defendants. According to the DOJ settlement, applicants seeking a share of the $1.7 billion must meet criteria considering “the totality of the circumstances.” A DOJ press release about the fund stated there are “no partisan requirements to file a claim,” yet individuals associated with the Capitol riot and other Trump allies are reportedly considering applications.
In Howell’s letter to Blanche, he outlined plans to host a national gathering in Washington, D.C. should he be chosen for the commission.
“These victims will include those who had to pay legal fees because of their support for President Trump, those who were sent to prison, including those involved with January 6th, 2021,” the letter stated. “At this gathering, victims will be offered the time and space to share their stories.”
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