Cornyn and Tillis say they'll support Blanche for AG after rescinding "anti-weaponization fund"
Todd Blanche is one step closer to becoming permanent attorney general after he rescinded President Trump's "anti-weaponization fund," earning him the support of Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. CBS News' Nicole Sganga reports.
Todd Blanche, the acting Attorney General, has rescinded an order setting up a $1.776 billion fund established by President Trump. This fund was part of a settlement in a lawsuit Trump had against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax records. The move has earned Blanche the support of Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis for his confirmation as permanent Attorney General.
The fund was created to compensate individuals who claimed they suffered from government "lawfare". According to Axios, the settlement's terms can only be changed via a written agreement from the Trumps and the government, and Sunday's order, signed by Blanche, does not affect the settlement provision requiring the attorney general to create the fund.
Blanche faced resistance from some Senate Republicans, including Cornyn, who was a key holdout. However, with the rescission of the fund, Cornyn and Tillis have now expressed their support for Blanche's confirmation.
Brief written by urgent.news from CBS News, Axios, CNBC, The Hill, NPR — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Todd Blanche rescinds "anti-weaponization fund" ahead of possible Senate confirmation cbsnews.com
- Senate appears ready to advance Blanche after Cornyn strikes deal cnbc.com