Lead summary from NBC News Politics
Trump threatened to “push hard” to keep a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund active, amid an ongoing feud between two Republican senators and the Trump administration over Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
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Trump threatened to “push hard” to keep a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund active, amid an ongoing feud between two Republican senators and the Trump administration over Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
Read at NBC News Politics →After declaring ‘anti-weaponization’ fund ‘dead’, Trump reverses and says he’ll revive it despite Senate oppositionThe US Senate judiciary committee has scheduled a meeting early next week to consider Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, as Donald Trump promised to revive the controversial $1.8bn “anti-weaponization” fund.The meeting, set for Tuesday, comes as Blanche’s confirmation has stalled over a dispute between the president and outgoing Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who are seeking written confirmation that the justice department would not establish the proposed fund. Continue reading...
Read at US news | The Guardian →Sen. Thom Tillis said Saturday morning that new comments by President Trump about his "anti-weaponization" fund mean that attorney general nominee Todd Blanche won't be confirmed by the Senate next week.Why it matters: Tillis's comment escalates the fight between the White House and holdout Senate Republicans over whether Trump's fund — for people he considers victims of political persecution — is dead or not.What they're saying: "Despite comments as late as yesterday that the fund is dead, President Trump clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against," Tillis (R-N.C.) posted to X."It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal. Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday."For the record: The White House was not immediately available to comment on Tillis's remarks.The big picture: The "anti-weaponization" fund has been the red line for Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). The lawmakers have refused to vote for Blanche until the DOJ put into writing that aspects of the deal aren't moving forward.Tillis and Cornyn both sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and at least one of their votes is needed to advance Blanche's nomination to a confirmation vote before the entire Senate.Yes, but: Earlier Saturday, Trump posted to Truth Social that if Tillis and Cornyn weren't going to vote for Blanche, he would maintain Blanche as acting attorney general and revive a bill to establish the fund. "Todd Blanche was a voice of reason! It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done," Trump said. Background: The president on Thursday floated withdrawing Blanche's name and keeping him on in an acting capacity until Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate this January.But on Friday, Trump said Blanche should be "immediately approved," a call seconded by members of his administration.The bottom line: The fights over Blanche, the fund, and Trump's influence over Senate Republicans are converging, with no clear end in sight. Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.
Read at Axios →President Donald Trump conceded Thursday he may temporarily withdraw Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination rather than capitulate to demands from two departing Republican senators. The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote Wednesday after Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) signaled they would block confirmation. Trump praised Blanche on Truth Social while threatening to resubmit the nomination after the senators leave office. The core dispute involves a Department of Justice-IRS settlement granting Trump and his family tax audit immunity and creating a $1.8 billion "weaponization fund" later abandoned. "Todd Blanche is a STAR," Trump began. "I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office," he added. "All I want them to do is to confirm what he said in his sworn testimony before the Judiciary Committee, with regard not only to the weaponization fund, but also who is protected from future audits and what agencies of the federal government are bound by the release," Cornyn said, CBS News reported.Cornyn also told reporters talks had been "very constructive" Tuesday but shifted by Thursday, suggesting presidential intervention, according to NBC News reporter Laura Weiss. The DOJ has refused to cooperate with Cornyn's requests, according to The Hill, leaving no scheduled meetings between senators and the White House or Justice Department.Watch the video below. Your browser does not support the video tag.
Read at Raw Story →2 publishers
Todd Blanche previously repeatedly told Congress the "anti-weaponization fund" was "dead."
Read at Politics - CBSNews.com →President Trump and his Cabinet are gathered at Camp David for their 13th Cabinet meeting of his second term. Among the new faces at the table are Jay Clayton, incoming director of national intelligence, and Keith Sonderling, secretary of Labor. In questions with reporters, Trump lambasted the Senate, specifically Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), for not…
Read at The Hill News →3 publishers
Trump vows to keep Todd Blanche as acting attorney general and revive the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund if John Cornyn and Thom Tillis block him.
Read at Latest Political News on Fox News →The president is still pushing the idea of using taxpayer money to reward Capitol rioters, contradicting the attorney general nominee's assurance that it won't happen.
Read at Reason.com →President Donald Trump on Friday argued in favor of the anti-weaponization fund that his administration previously said was dead, as Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) continues to hold up acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination over concerns about the fund. “Perhaps there has never been a group of people treated so badly in our Nation’s history,” […]
Read at Washington Examiner →