'Not a big fan' - Top Senate Republican breaks with Trump on $1.8bn 'anti-weaponisation' fund

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has split with the Trump administration over its creation of a $1.8bn (£1.3bn) fund aimed at compensating individuals "unfairly" investigated by previous administrations. Thune, the most high-profile member of Trump's party to criticise the plan, told reporters he was "not a big fan" and did not see "a purpose" for the fund. The fund is part of a deal that saw President Donald Trump drop a $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the leak of his tax returns to the media. On Tuesday, the justice department filed a memo that expands the deal, blocking the IRS from pursuing action against Trump and his family on past tax returns. As part of the deal, which was unveiled on Monday, the lawsuit's plaintiffs, which include Trump's elder sons, Donald Jr and Eric, and the Trump Organization, will receive an apology, but no monetary compensation, the department said. The "Anti-Weaponization Fund" will consist of a five-member commission, four of whom will be appointed by the attorney general. It will have a total of $1.776bn available to settle and pay cases - a figure that refers to the year the US declared independence from