Could DOJ revive the "anti-weaponization" fund even after Blanche rescinded it?
GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis formally announced their support for Todd Blanche as attorney general on Monday. This comes after an agreement was reached to end the controversial "anti-weaponization" fund. Rupa Bhattacharyya, legal director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, joins with analysis.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded an order setting up a $1.776 billion fund, according to Axios. The fund was part of a May settlement of a lawsuit by President Trump against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax records.
The fund was intended for individuals claiming they suffered from government "lawfare". According to Axios, Blanche's new order does not change the settlement provision requiring the attorney general to create the fund, and the settlement's terms can only be changed via a written agreement from the Trumps and the government.
Sen. John Cornyn and other Republicans had been resisting Blanche's confirmation, but an agreement was reached to end the fund, allowing Cornyn to support Blanche's nomination, as reported by The Hill and CBS News.
Brief written by urgent.news from CBS News, Axios, NPR, The Hill — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
