Todd Blanche issues formal order terminating measure widely derided as a ‘slush fund’, in move that could clear path for his nomination as attorney general

Todd Blanche issues formal order terminating measure widely derided as a ‘slush fund’, in move that could clear path for his nomination as attorney general

Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche issued a formal order late on Sunday terminating Donald Trump’s $1.8bn “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies, a move that follows weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who were blocking his nomination to become attorney general.

While Blanche has repeatedly said publicly that the fund was dead, the justice department had resisted formally confirming that in writing. That had drawn concern from lawmakers that it could be revived in some form, especially after Trump expressed continued support for the idea.

A spokesperson for Texas Senator John Cornyn, one of the senators holding up Blanche’s nomination, confirmed the agreement. The other GOP senator, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, did not have immediate comment.

  • NekoKoneko
    2·
    5 hours ago

    That would make sense, but it’s just as likely they are thinking about life after the Senate.

    If their only marketable associations are via the GOP, if the GOP has become MAGA, and if they are exiled from MAGA-ified GOP, then they may still be trying to look like they weren’t really opposed to Trump because it’ll help them nab that Fox News correspondent spot, that speaking engagement, that cushy lobbying firm role.