Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche moved a step closer to Senate confirmation Sunday after formally scrapping a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” and tightening the tax protections tied to President Donald Trump’s IRS settlement, a move that appears to have satisfied two Republican holdouts who had stalled his nomination.
Read more The Strategic Architecture Behind ‘Trump’s Luck’
A spokeswoman for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, confirmed Sunday that the Justice Department had reached an agreement with Cornyn, who along with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., had blocked Blanche’s confirmation. The deal clears the way for Cornyn to back Blanche when the Senate Judiciary Committee votes Tuesday. Tillis had not publicly weighed in on the agreement as of Sunday night, though he is expected to follow Cornyn’s lead.
Republicans need every member of the committee on board Tuesday to overcome unified Democratic opposition to Blanche’s nomination. An earlier committee vote was postponed after Cornyn and Tillis demanded a written commitment from the administration before moving forward.
Blanche met those demands by terminating the fund outright and clarifying that tax protections in the settlement apply only retroactively, not to future filings. The Justice Department said the fund never became operational. No members were appointed, no money changed hands, no claims process existed and no payments were ever made.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche wrote on X Sunday. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”
Read more How Eilat Mazar Found King David’s Palace
Blanche’s order rescinded the May 18 directive that established the fund. Cornyn and Tillis had pushed for written assurances after Trump kept voicing support for the idea publicly, and after lawmakers raised alarm that people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot could have been eligible for payouts under the original plan.
“Sen. Cornyn has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice, which will be issuing a formal order permanently terminating the anti-weaponization fund and making clear in a binding written document that the scope of the audit settlement is limited to only the plaintiffs, including the President, and the IRS,” Cornyn spokeswoman Natalie Yezbick told Politico.
Tillis had voiced sharp frustration Saturday, before the agreement came together, accusing Trump of intending to “resurrect the payout pot” through a new fund or by pushing Congress toward a bill most Senate Republicans opposed. “It’s unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal. Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday,” Tillis said at the time.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since taking over for Pam Bondi in April. Senate Republicans are hoping to push his nomination through before the end of the week.
Read more Morning Greatness: Iran Talks to Restart Monday on Denuclearization, Hormuz
