Trump Threatens to Revive Weaponization Fund Over Blanche Nomination

The nomination of Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General has stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee due to a dispute over a May settlement between the Department of Justice and President Donald Trump. The agreement provided tax audit immunity for the president and his family and established a $1.776 billion to $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" to compensate political allies. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have blocked the nomination, demanding written guarantees that the fund is permanently defunct and that audit immunity applies only to past filings.

In response, Donald Trump accused the senators of political retaliation because he did not endorse them in their respective primary races. Trump initially threatened to withdraw the nomination and resubmit it in 2027 after Cornyn and Tillis leave office, while keeping Blanche in his current role as acting attorney general. However, on August 1, Trump issued an ultimatum, stating that the anti-weaponization fund would be "back on the table" if the senators do not approve the nomination. He also pledged to push for an "Anti-Weaponization Bill" to compensate those he claims were targeted by the previous administration.

Senator Tillis dismissed the fund as a "payout pot for punks," while Senator Cornyn accused the Justice Department of "stonewalling" requests for written documentation. Despite the tension, Blanche met with the senators in late July to resume negotiations. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the nomination for Tuesday, August 4.