President Donald Trump has presented a contentious plan to retain Todd Blanche as Attorney General, aiming to pressure two Republican senators who have expressed reservations about confirming his appointment.
Trump directed an ultimatum on Saturday morning to Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn via a Truth Social post, warning that he would vigorously pursue his "Anti-Weaponization Fund" if they did not comply with his demand. He asserted that this fund "takes care of those who have been so badly treated" during the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
"Todd Blanche was a voice of reason!" Trump wrote. "It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The Trump administration requires the votes of Tillis and Cornyn, but both lawmakers have opposed Blanche's nomination due to a lawsuit settlement that established the $1.8 billion fund. This fund also granted Trump and his family members immunity from tax audits. The president's stance on the fund appears to have shifted, as he had declared the fund "dead" just one day prior.
As negotiations progressed, Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, rescheduled a committee vote for Blanche that had been postponed earlier in the week. A spokesperson for the committee indicated that Grassley wishes to see Blanche confirmed before the August recess, and the rescheduled vote "gives more time for the White House to secure the votes for the President's nominee."
However, these plans were jeopardized by Trump's announcement. Tillis, who is retiring, noted Trump's change in position, stating that despite previous comments, Trump "clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against."
Tillis added, "It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal. Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday."
Blanche had stated at a hearing two months prior that the anti-weaponization fund would not proceed after Republican senators revolted and stalled an immigration funding bill. Tillis and Cornyn, however, have sought assurances that the White House will not reverse course, particularly as Trump continues to advocate for the fund's necessity.
The Justice Department has provided the senators with documentation stating that Blanche's May 18 order establishing the anti-weaponization fund is "rescinded and shall have no force or effect." Cornyn and Tillis also desire clarification on a separate component of the settlement that would grant Trump and his family members immunity from tax audits.
Cornyn stated that his understanding was that the audits would be confined to the parties involved in the litigation and would be retrospective, not prospective. "And all we're doing is asking them to put that in writing," he added.