President Donald Trump has created uncertainty around the Senate confirmation of his nominee for attorney general with a recent announcement. He threatened to establish a fund aimed at compensating his allies if two Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, do not support his nominee, Todd Blanche.
Trump, in his post on Truth Social, indicated that he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general and push forward an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” if the senators refuse to endorse the former federal prosecutor who was a prominent figure in Trump’s defense team during trials. The administration requires their votes, but both lawmakers have expressed concerns about Blanche, citing a previous settlement that created a $1.8 billion fund for those wronged by the criminal justice system. This settlement also provided Trump and his family immunity from tax audits.
Trump had previously declared the fund “dead,” but negotiations continued late into Friday night. As a result, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley rescheduled a committee vote postponed earlier in the week. Grassley aims for Blanche to be confirmed before the Senate’s August recess. Scheduling the vote on Tuesday offers additional time for the White House to secure necessary votes.
On Saturday, Trump’s new message brought the fund back into discussion, and he criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis, who are set to leave Capitol Hill in January. Trump noted that he would maintain Blanche as Acting Attorney General and actively pursue the fund to aid those harmed under previous administrations. Tillis responded on X, emphasizing his view that Trump intends to renew this fund, either through improper means or by urging Congress to vote for a related bill. Tillis concluded that Blanche’s qualifications for the role might not see confirmation due to this sudden change.
During a previous hearing, Blanche stated that the anti-weaponization fund wouldn’t advance following Republican opposition. Nonetheless, Tillis and Cornyn’s resistance steams from ensuring no reversal occurs at this late stage, stressing the necessity of a fund from Trump’s standpoint.
The Department of Justice supplied the senators with documentation indicating Blanche’s initial order for the Anti-Weaponization Fund was canceled, yet Tillis and Cornyn seek further detail on another settlement aspect. This aspect could grant Trump’s family immunity from future tax audits. Cornyn emphasized needing a written agreement confirming these audits would not extend to the numerous Trump organizations.