- President Donald Trump confirmed he didn’t sign Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s order rescinding the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization fund,” so the settlement fund could potentially be revived.
- Blanche released two orders Sunday night after Cornyn and Tillis said they wouldn’t support his confirmation without written modifications; the senators requested the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund be formally rescinded and the immunity deal narrowed.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve Blanche’s nomination on Tuesday, and Mike Howell said the order could be “undone after Tuesday.”
- Trump defended the fund, saying “I view that fund as a positive,” and when asked if he signed off on Blanche’s order, responded: “I didn’t look at it. All I know is that Todd Blanche is great.”
- The $1.8 billion fund drew widespread condemnation from even Republicans, prompting Blanche to say the fund was “dead,” while Trump said Friday it “is dead, but I wish it weren’t.”
- The order may not be legally binding because the initial settlement can only be modified “with the written agreement of the parties,” and legal experts were broadly skeptical; Carissa Byrne Hessick, a criminal law professor at the University of North Carolina, said nothing in Blanche’s letter would prevent him from reviving the fund once confirmed.
- An unsigned Department of Justice (DOJ) release says the immunity agreement applies only retroactively and only to named parties, but the Tax Law Center at New York University said the narrowed scope “seems to conflict with the actual language of the order.”
- Without all parties agreeing in writing to rescind the fund, Blanche could rescind his Sunday order and declare the fund is back in effect, and Trump could sue his own DOJ for breach of contract.
President Donald Trump confirmed he did not sign Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's order rescinding the Justice Department's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund.' This fund, intended to support Trump’s political allies, including those involved in the January 6 riots, remains in limbo.1
Blanche's order, released amid pressure from key GOP senators, aimed to modify the settlement agreement with Trump. Senators Cornyn and Tillis insisted on changes to the deal before supporting Blanche's confirmation. “I view that fund as a positive, and a lot of Republicans do too,” Trump stated, indicating his desire for the fund's revival.23
Legal experts have expressed skepticism regarding Blanche's authority to permanently rescind the fund. Carissa Byrne Hessick, a criminal law professor, noted, “I see nothing in Blanche’s letter that would prevent him from reviving the fund the moment that he is confirmed.” Critics also question whether the order effectively narrows the immunity agreement, which is supposed to shield Trump and his associates from future legal actions.1011
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Blanche's nomination, with expectations of approval now that key senators are on board. “Can be undone after Tuesday,” said Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, referring to the upcoming vote. The uncertainty surrounding the fund's fate continues to raise concerns among both supporters and critics of the Trump administration.45
“The $1.8 billion fund, meant to benefit Trump's political allies including Jan. 6 rioters, drew widespread condemnation from even Republicans. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve Blanche's nomination Tuesday after Cornyn and Tillis backed him, though Mike Howell said the order 'can be undone after Tuesday.'”
forbes.com
