Key facts
- President Trump nominated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the DOJ.
- Senator Thom Tillis threatened to withhold support for Blanche's nomination.
- Tillis's support was conditional on Blanche condemning the January 6th Capitol attacks.
- Trump called Tillis a 'loser' in response to his stance.
- The DOJ will not move forward with a $1.7 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund.
- Todd Blanche previously served as Trump's lead criminal defense attorney.
President Trump announced his intention to nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice, following a week marked by a public dispute with Senator Thom Tillis. Trump referred to Tillis as a "loser" after the senator indicated he would withhold support for Blanche's confirmation unless Blanche explicitly condemned the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's lead criminal defense attorney, stated he was "honored and humbled" by the nomination. In a separate development, Blanche confirmed that the DOJ would not proceed with a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, which faced legal challenges and had been temporarily blocked by a judge. This fund was part of a settlement related to the release of Trump's tax returns. Blanche highlighted the department's efforts to fulfill Trump's campaign promises on public safety, mentioning recent arrests, including the dismantling of a sophisticated drug-smuggling tunnel from Mexico to California and the indictment of individuals accused of supporting ISIS.