Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has terminated a proposed $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate allies of Donald Trump, including participants of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The move comes as part of an agreement that is expected to lead to Blanche's confirmation as the permanent Attorney General this week.
The fund, which had been referred to by Trump as a way to reimburse those who he claimed had been "badly treated" during previous administrations, had faced significant opposition from some Republican senators, notably Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas.
Trump had publicly expressed his intention to revive the fund if Senators Tillis and Cornyn did not support Blanche's nomination. He issued an ultimatum on the social media platform Truth Social on Saturday morning, stating that if his demands were not met, he would "push hard" to restore the "Anti-Weaponization Fund." He reiterated this stance during a press briefing on Air Force One on Sunday evening.
Blanche confirmed the termination of the fund in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating that his team had engaged in "good faith discussions" with committee members and senators, addressing their concerns. The agreement also reportedly limits the scope of immunity granted to Trump and his family members from tax audits under the settlement.
While Blanche had previously indicated the fund was no longer viable, the Justice Department had not formally confirmed this in writing. This lack of official confirmation had raised concerns among lawmakers that the fund could be reinstated, especially given Trump's continued public support for the initiative. Trump had described the fund as a "reimbursement for the pain that they suffered" for individuals facing charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, stating that "a lot of people like it."