Trump Doubles Down On Anti-Weaponization Fund Amid Blanche Confirmation Fight

Topline

President Donald Trump defended his administration’s controversial “anti-weaponization fund” Friday and suggested he planned to push forward with trying to confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, as the fund and Trump’s agreement with the IRS has threatened to scuttle Blanche’s confirmation and after the president had previously suggested he could temporarily pull Blanche’s name.

Key Facts

Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday as Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has said he’ll oppose Blanche’s nomination unless the Justice Department modifies its settlement with Trump, including withdrawing the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and narrowing the scope of an agreement giving the president and his affiliates broad legal immunity.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on moving Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate was postponed Thursday because of Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis’ opposition to the IRS settlement, as a vote against Blanche from even one Republican on the committee would block Blanche’s nomination from moving forward.

Trump claimed Cornyn “never had a problem with the so-called ‘Fund’” until after the president endorsed Cornyn’s primary opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, over him.

The president defended the fund—which has been criticized for likely giving payouts to Jan. 6 rioters—arguing, “I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!”

He added Blanche, “a good man, should be immediately approved as U.S. Attorney General,” seemingly backtracking after suggesting in a post Thursday that he could withdraw Blanche’s nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate at the end of the year.

Cornyn and Tillis have said they’re working with the DOJ to reach a deal to approve Blanche, but claimed Thursday the White House appears to be blocking the DOJ from making written assurances the $1.8 billion fund is dead, despite Blanche previously testifying that to Congress.

Crucial Quote

“Perhaps there has never been a group of people treated so badly in our Nation’s history,” Trump said about the Jan. 6 rioters and others who would benefit from the “anti-weaponization” fund. “They are suffering still, many ruined, and I felt that they should be given compensation for what has been done to them.”

What To Watch For

Cornyn and Tillis are likely to continue negotiating with Blanche and the DOJ on Friday to reach an agreement on the IRS settlement. Punchbowl News reported progress was made after the lawmakers had a meeting Thursday afternoon with Blanche, but a deal had not yet been reached. The senators’ concerns on Blanche will have to be resolved swiftly in order for the Senate to confirm him this month, as lawmakers are due to leave for their August recess at the end of next week. Blanche can continue serving as acting attorney general in the meantime, however.

What Are Cornyn And Tillis Asking For?

Cornyn and Tillis are asking for a written modification to both parts of Trump’s settlement agreement with the IRS. For the “anti-weaponization” fund, the senators want the DOJ to formally rescind the fund in writing, essentially codifying comments that Blanche has already made verbally to Congress saying the fund is “dead” and is not moving forward. They also want the DOJ to narrow the scope of the immunity agreement in the settlement, which right now appears to give Trump, his family, his company and other affiliates broad immunity against prosecution or civil actions brought by government agencies for actions that were taken by the time the settlement agreement was signed in May, including blocking any investigations into existing tax returns. Cornyn and Tillis do not want to rescind that agreement entirely, which the DOJ has kept in effect despite backtracking on the $1.8 fund—and despite a ruling from the judge overseeing the IRS case that appeared to nullify the settlement agreement entirely. Rather, the senators just want written assurances that the fund applies only to the parties in the IRS lawsuit—Trump, his eldest sons and the Trump Organization—and does not apply to federal agencies beyond the IRS and Treasury Department. They also want assurances the agreement can’t be used to shield Trump from investigations over actions or tax filings that haven’t been made yet. The senators’ requests are in line with claims Blanche already made to the Senate about the scope of the immunity agreement being much narrower than the actual language of the deal suggests.

Could The Anti-Weaponization Fund Be Revived?

Trump’s suggestion Thursday that he would rather pull Blanche’s nomination than reach a deal on the IRS settlement had raised concerns the Trump administration was trying to revive the $1.8 billion fund, despite Blanche previously telling lawmakers it was “dead.” A federal judge has blocked the fund from moving forward, but without the written notice rescinding the fund that Cornyn and Tillis have asked for, it’s still possible the Trump administration could revive it if that court order expires, or try to create a new mechanism to get payouts to Jan. 6 rioters and other allies. “Now it looks like they weren't being honest when they said it was inoperative,” Tillis told The New York Times on Thursday about the Trump administration’s unwillingness to kill the fund in writing.

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