A senior Justice Department official briefly sparked controversy after posting and then deleting a message on X that appeared to suggest continued attention to a disputed compensation mechanism tied to cases involving the January 6 Capitol riot.Associate Attorney General Stanley E.Woodward, Jr.responded to a post by Senator Lindsey Graham with the message “We’re on it.” The reply was quickly removed, drawing public attention after it was flagged by reporters monitoring the discussion online.

The incident came shortly after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, stating that the Justice Department’s proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was no longer moving forward.

Blanche emphasized during questioning that the initiative was effectively terminated, responding “Period” when pressed on whether the plan would be revived in the future.The fund had already been the subject of intense political criticism.

Opponents argued it lacked sufficient oversight, judicial review, and congressional control, and a federal judge in Virginia had temporarily blocked its implementation.

Critics from both parties labeled it a potential “slush fund,” while supporters framed related discussions as addressing alleged abuses in prior prosecutions.

Senator Lindsey Graham proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that claims could instead be handled through the Federal Tort Claims Act rather than a newly created compensation system.

The brief deleted post from Woodward raised questions about whether the Justice Department might still consider alternative pathways despite Blanche’s public statements that the fund was definitively canceled.

The episode has further fueled debate over accountability, transparency, and the political sensitivity surrounding January 6-related legal and financial matters.