SACRAMENTO\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to tax 100% of the money Californians receive from President Trump\u2019s \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund for his political allies.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s Justice Department had announced last week that it would establish a $1.776-billion fund to compensate allies of the president who claim they have \u201csuffered weaponization and lawfare\u201d under the Biden administration\u2019s Justice Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone from California that receives any of those funds, we want to tax 100% of those proceeds,\u201d the governor told reporters Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an action the state of California can take \u2026[and] it\u2019s an action we look forward to taking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just how Newsom would do so remains unclear. He indicated that he would need action from the Democratic-led California Legislature to impose the new tax. If adopted, the measure would likely face legal challenge.<\/p>\n
The fund has prompted outrage from Democrats and some Republicans<\/a> \u2014 including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who said in a statement that the \u201cslush fund,\u201d which would \u201cpay people who assault cops,\u201d was \u201cutterly stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n Newsom\u2019s remarks about Trump\u2019s settlement fund came on Thursday as he signed a bill designed to prevent election interference ahead of Tuesday\u2019s primary.<\/p>\n The bill, Senate Bill 73,<\/a> restricts law enforcement agencies and officers \u2014 including those from federal agencies \u2014 from interfering with state and local election officials, such as confiscating ballots, voter rolls or voting machines without a warrant.<\/p>\n The governor said the bill is meant to address \u201clegitimate anxiety\u201d over threats to election integrity after Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco\u2019s decision<\/a> to seize ballots from the county\u2019s voter registrar as part of a fraud probe. Bianco, a long-time Trump supporter, is one of the top Republicans running to succeed Newsom after the end of his second and final term as governor. <\/p>\n Newsom also pointed to ICE and Border Patrol\u2019s decision last November to stage an event near Dodger Stadium<\/a>, calling it a \u201cshow of force designed to intimidate free expression and free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we have to step up and we have to draw the line,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cWe have to clarify the rules of engagement\u2026 there are fines associated with this, criminal fines and jail time of three years, so that\u2019s a warning [to] the folks out there that think they can do the bidding of the Trump administration.\u201d<\/p>\n