Trump Threatens to Revive Settlement Fund as Attorney General Nomination Faces Senate Uncertainty
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that he could move ahead with an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and keep acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in his current position if two Republican senators continue to oppose Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. The development has added fresh uncertainty to a Senate confirmation process that had been expected to move forward next week.
The latest comments came in a post on Truth Social, where Trump indicated he was prepared to maintain Blanche as acting attorney general rather than make concessions if Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina do not support the nomination.
Trump Reopens Debate Over Anti-Weaponization Fund
Trump’s remarks appeared to revive discussion over the proposed Anti-Weaponization Fund, which would compensate people who believe they were unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system. The proposal has remained one of the central issues in negotiations surrounding Blanche’s confirmation.
According to the developments, Cornyn and Tillis have opposed Blanche’s nomination because of a lawsuit settlement that established a $1.8 billion compensation fund. The settlement also granted Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits, a provision that has drawn criticism from the two Republican senators.
Conflicting Signals From the White House
The president’s latest position contrasts with comments made a day earlier. On Friday, Trump declared that the Anti-Weaponization Fund was “dead,” raising expectations that negotiations with Senate Republicans had made progress.
Following those discussions, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley rescheduled a committee vote on Blanche’s nomination after it had previously been delayed earlier in the week.
Senate Vote Planned Before August Recess
A spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee said Grassley hopes to see Blanche confirmed before the Senate begins its August recess. The committee placed a vote on the calendar for Tuesday, giving the White House additional time to secure enough Republican support for the president’s nominee.
However, Trump’s latest statement has cast doubt over whether that timetable can be maintained. By putting the compensation fund back into the discussion, the president introduced another point of contention in negotiations with Republican lawmakers.
Key Republican Holdouts Remain Critical
Cornyn and Tillis remain the two principal Republican senators withholding support for Blanche’s nomination. Trump also criticized both lawmakers in his Saturday remarks, noting that each will leave Capitol Hill when their Senate terms conclude in January.
The administration continues to require their backing as it works to advance Blanche’s confirmation through the Senate.
What Comes Next
The Senate Judiciary Committee is currently scheduled to consider Blanche’s nomination on Tuesday. Whether that vote proceeds as planned may depend on ongoing discussions between the White House and Republican senators over the disputed settlement fund and the broader confirmation process.
For now, Trump’s latest intervention has complicated negotiations that had appeared to be moving toward a resolution, leaving the future of the attorney general nomination uncertain ahead of next week’s planned Senate action.
Source: Associated Press (AP)
