Blanche kills Trump fund but leaves legal loose ends
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, clearing the path for his Senate confirmation vote, though the underlying settlement agreement creating the fund remains legally binding. The move leaves legal ambiguities that could allow Trump's lawyers to challenge the decision.
Todd Blanche rescinds Trump anti-weaponization fund amid legal questions
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Blanche poised for confirmation vote after he kills Trump's fund
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!Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sits at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, looking over his shoulder toward the camera.
*Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images*
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will likely advance to a full Senate confirmation vote after he rescinded the order setting up President Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund Sunday.
**Why it matters:** Blanche's Sunday order has won over Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who had held out on voting for Trump's pick.
**The latest:** Cornyn and Tillis said in a joint statement that they will vote to advance Blanche's nomination.
* The senators said they had negotiated a "legally enforceable document" that ends the anti-weaponization fund and limits protections against audits.
* "We look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon," the senators said in the statement.
**Catch up quick:** The fund grew out of a May settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax records.
* The settlement promised an apology to Trump and his sons, and it created the fund for individuals claiming they suffered from government "lawfare."
* Another agreement released Trump, his family and the Trump Organization from certain IRS claims and audits.
**Of note:** Blanche's new order rescinds one from May implementing the nearly $1.8 billion fund, but not the settlement provision requiring the attorney general to create the fund.
* The settlement's terms can only be changed via a written agreement from the Trumps and the government. Sunday's order was signed by Blanche but not by Trump, his sons or the Trump Organization.
* At his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, Blanche acknowledged that the settlement was enforceable and that Trump's lawyers could try to enforce it or claim the DOJ breached the agreement by refusing to operate the fund.
**Blanche also clarified** the sweeping protections Trump received from tax audits on Sunday.
* In a statement released with the order, Blanche said the protections only apply retroactively and only to the lawsuit's named plaintiffs: Trump, some of his family, and the Trump Organization. The earlier agreement said it extended to any "related or affiliated" individuals, companies and other organizations.
**Reality check:** While the Trump protections Blanche lists are without precedent, they also reflect the reality that Trump's administration will not criminally investigate him anyway.
* Before he leaves office, Trump is expected to hand out sweeping pardons to administration officials and allies. That would render any effort to prosecute Trump, his family or his companies doubly moot.
**Friction point:** Trump complicated the negotiations Saturday when he threatened to keep Blanche as acting attorney general and revive the fund.
* "It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done," he wrote.
**Flashback:** U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found that Trump's initial lawsuit was brought to manipulate the judicial process since Trump controlled both sides of the litigation.
* She stopped short of deciding if the agreement was enforceable as a private contract.
* U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema barred the DOJ from operating the fund, but she said she'd likely dismiss that case if top officials killed the fund.
* U.S. District Senior Judge Richard Leon reached a different result in a separate case, declining to block the fund since the Justice Department had said it was not moving forward.
**What's next:** The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Tuesday.
*Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.*
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Updated 5 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Blanche poised for confirmation vote after he kills Trump's fund
* Andrew Pantazi
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!Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sits at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, looking over his shoulder toward the camera.
*Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images*
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will likely advance to a full Senate confirmation vote after he rescinded the order setting up President Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund Sunday.
**Why it matters:** Blanche's Sunday order has won over Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who had held out on voting for Trump's pick.
**The latest:** Cornyn and Tillis said in a joint statement that they will vote to advance Blanche's nomination.
* The senators said they had negotiated a "legally enforceable document" that ends the anti-weaponization fund and limits protections against audits.
* "We look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon," the senators said in the statement.
**Catch up quick:** The fund grew out of a May settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax records.
* The settlement promised an apology to Trump and his sons, and it created the fund for individuals claiming they suffered from government "lawfare."
* Another agreement released Trump, his family and the Trump Organization from certain IRS claims and audits.
**Of note:** Blanche's new order rescinds one from May implementing the nearly $1.8 billion fund, but not the settlement provision requiring the attorney general to create the fund.
* The settlement's terms can only be changed via a written agreement from the Trumps and the government. Sunday's order was signed by Blanche but not by Trump, his sons or the Trump Organization.
* At his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, Blanche acknowledged that the settlement was enforceable and that Trump's lawyers could try to enforce it or claim the DOJ breached the agreement by refusing to operate the fund.
**Blanche also clarified** the sweeping protections Trump received from tax audits on Sunday.
* In a statement released with the order, Blanche said the protections only apply retroactively and only to the lawsuit's named plaintiffs: Trump, some of his family, and the Trump Organization. The earlier agreement said it extended to any "related or affiliated" individuals, companies and other organizations.
**Reality check:** While the Trump protections Blanche lists are without precedent, they also reflect the reality that Trump's administration will not criminally investigate him anyway.
* Before he leaves office, Trump is expected to hand out sweeping pardons to administration officials and allies. That would render any effort to prosecute Trump, his family or his companies doubly moot.
**Friction point:** Trump complicated the negotiations Saturday when he threatened to keep Blanche as acting attorney general and revive the fund.
* "It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done," he wrote.
**Flashback:** U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found that Trump's initial lawsuit was brought to manipulate the judicial process since Trump controlled both sides of the litigation.
* She stopped short of deciding if the agreement was enforceable as a private contract.
* U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema barred the DOJ from operating the fund, but she said she'd likely dismiss that case if top officials killed the fund.
* U.S. District Senior Judge Richard Leon reached a different result in a separate case, declining to block the fund since the Justice Department had said it was not moving forward.
**What's next:** The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Tuesday.
*Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.*
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