Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally rescinded the establishment of a controversial "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and issued clarifications regarding an IRS audit immunity settlement for former President Donald Trump, actions that appear to alleviate pressure from Republican senators blocking his permanent confirmation.
Blanche posted two orders on social media Sunday night. One order formally dissolved the nearly $1.8 billion fund. The second order clarified the scope of an arrangement that had shielded Trump from further IRS audits of his past tax returns.
The "Anti-Weaponization Fund" was established under Trump's authority, and its existence had drawn scrutiny. The rescission of the fund, along with the clarification of the IRS settlement terms, is seen as a move to secure the necessary support from key Republican holdouts, Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, for his nomination to permanently lead the Department of Justice.
Sources indicated that Blanche had been engaged in closed-door negotiations with the senators and their teams to revise the language of the IRS settlement. The settlement, part of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, included an addendum signed by Blanche that aimed to prevent the government from continuing existing audits of tax returns filed by Trump, his family, and their companies.
Senator Cornyn had previously stated that he sought written documentation confirming that the settlement's audit immunity would not extend to affiliated organizations not directly involved in the lawsuit. The order issued Sunday stipulates that the DOJ will interpret the settlement to apply only to the plaintiffs in Trump and his son's initial lawsuit. However, the order's language does not appear to be binding on Trump's personal lawyers or his family.
Some supporters of the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" have commented on the order rescinding it, noting that it does not explicitly prevent the Department of Justice from making payouts to individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol who supported Trump.
Blanche's actions followed reports that Trump had considered withdrawing Blanche's nomination due to the resistance from Cornyn and Tillis. Both senators' terms are set to conclude in January. Blanche can continue to serve as acting attorney general under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act for up to 210 days, a period that resets if a nomination is withdrawn.