Acting AG Todd Blanche Faces Senate Scrutiny

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced intense questioning during a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday concerning the proposed "Anti-Weaponization Fund" intended to compensate President Donald Trump's allies and a tax immunity deal for the former president. Blanche stated that the $1.776 billion fund, which was abandoned following significant bipartisan opposition, is "not moving forward." However, lawmakers, including Republican Senator John Cornyn, expressed concern that the Trump administration has not provided written confirmation that the fund is permanently defunct, leaving open the possibility of its revival.

Senator Cornyn specifically questioned whether President Trump, who is a plaintiff in a related lawsuit, had agreed in writing to abandon the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and if there was a guarantee it would not be raised again. Blanche responded by asserting that Trump lacks any authority over the fund, which was slated for administration by the Justice Department but never became operational. Cornyn's support is critical for Blanche, as he requires the backing of all Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to advance his nomination, and the Texas senator has yet to commit his vote.

The hearing occurred during a period of significant upheaval for the Justice Department, marked by numerous staff departures and criticisms from Democrats and others who allege that Blanche continues to act as the president's personal attorney. He has served as the interim head of the department since April, serving as the public representative for the initially proposed and subsequently withdrawn fund, and has expedited investigations targeting perceived adversaries of Trump. Even while announcing the shelving of the fund, Blanche confirmed that Trump's tax audit immunity for the current year remains in effect. These actions, along with the problematic disclosure of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation, were subjected to renewed examination during the hearing.