Donald Trump has threatened to revive a controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund to compensate allies if two Republican senators do not approve his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are withholding their support over the fund's status.
The standoff highlights the influence of a small group of senators in blocking key appointments and underscores Donald Trump's continued focus on seeking retribution for perceived injustices against his allies, potentially impacting future Justice Department actions.
Donald Trump has threatened to revive a controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund to compensate his allies amid a standoff with two Republican senators over the confirmation of his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are withholding their support, with Trump claiming their opposition stems from his refusal to endorse them.
Trump stated on Saturday that if Blanche's nomination is not approved, he will keep him as Acting Attorney General and push for the "Anti-Weaponization Bill." The proposed fund, initially announced to settle a lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of Trump's tax returns, aimed to allow allies to claim compensation for alleged politically motivated prosecutions. The plan faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who feared it could benefit individuals prosecuted for the January 6th Capitol riot.
Cornyn and Tillis are seeking written assurance from Blanche that the Justice Department will not resurrect the fund. Tillis described the situation on X, calling the fund a "payout pot for punks" and expressing regret that Blanche's nomination might fail due to this issue. The Senate Judiciary Committee has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday for a potential vote on Blanche's nomination.
Trump acknowledged on Friday that the fund was "dead" but reiterated his desire for compensation for those he believes have been "horribly treated" and "abused" by the justice department.