Todd Blanche’s Attorney-General Nomination Stalled Over “Anti-Weaponization” Fund

Republican senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have signaled they will block the Senate Judiciary Committee’s scheduled Thursday-morning vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general unless the Justice Department provides written assurances that a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund—originally set aside to compensate people who claim they were harmed by the Justice Department, including some alleged participants in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack—is formally eliminated.

CNN

In June, Blanche announced he would drop the proposed fund but said a related tax-addendum protecting former President Donald Trump and his family from IRS investigations would remain. The fund, created as part of a settlement with Trump’s personal attorneys, was criticized as a slush-fund mechanism for distributing taxpayer money to Trump allies. Blanche has repeatedly asserted that “the weaponization fund is dead” and that the tax provision binds only the IRS and Treasury, not other agencies.

CNN

Cornyn told reporters he has not received the promised written guarantees and gave the department until 4 p.m. to supply them, warning that without the assurances the committee’s vote could be postponed. Tillis echoed the demand, insisting the fund be struck from the settlement agreement. The two senators control the vote; without their support, the nomination cannot advance. Cornyn also noted he has not discussed a postponement with Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, though he acknowledged the possibility if the fund issue remains unresolved.

CNN

Blanche, who continues as acting attorney general, maintains that the fund is no longer operative and that the remaining tax addendum limits only IRS investigations of Trump. The Justice Department has not issued a new written amendment to the settlement, leading the senators to describe the department’s response as “radio silent.”

CNN

“They’ve been kind of radio silent for the last 24 hours,” — John Cornyn, of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, accused Mr

New York Times