Yes, I agree. But the fact that these dollars came from fines, as opposed to taxes, gave them a bit of wiggle room. Something Congress should address for the future: all dollars received as a result of gov’t imposed FINES must be returned to the Treasury. Period.
That is shaky legal ground they based that decision on.
Money from fines automatically becomes US Government monies. If it was not passed on to Treasury, then it was misappropriated, illegal and prosecutable....................