- Senate advances Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination to a full US Senate vote despite concerns over 'weaponization,' Epstein, and abortion.
- Blanche posted a signed order, dated August 2, rescinding the Anti-Weaponization Fund; afterward, Tillis and Cornyn confirmed they would vote for him.
- During the Judiciary Committee debate, Tillis said the DOJ was 'a little bit more intense' under Trump, while Sheldon Whitehouse called the two documents 'decorative' and said there was 'enough weasel room in these documents to drive a truck through.' Cory Booker shouted, 'We got nothing! No guarantees whatsoever that this slush fund can't go forward.'
- Trump remained highly supportive of the fund, writing on Truth Social that his supporters deserved payouts and that 'these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!'
- On a recorded call with anti-abortion activists, Blanche vowed to use the Department of Justice (DOJ) to crack down on blue-state shield laws for mail-order abortion drugs and promised permanent 'victory' over abortion rights activists: 'victory will be soon, and and and it will be permanent.'
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general after he confirmed the cancellation of a proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, which critics argued could serve as a taxpayer-funded payout to Trump loyalists.2378910
Blanche, a close aide to former President Donald Trump, faced scrutiny regarding his ability to lead the Department of Justice independently. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis expressed concerns over the fund, which was intended to compensate individuals they claimed were unfairly targeted by federal investigations. Both senators ultimately agreed to support Blanche after he rescinded the fund, with Tillis labeling it a “payout pot for punks.”456
Despite the advancement of his nomination, Blanche's confirmation is expected to encounter significant opposition from Democrats. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse criticized the documents surrounding the fund's cancellation as lacking legal weight, stating, “They are decorative.”
Additionally, Blanche's past comments regarding abortion rights have raised alarms, as he pledged to use the DOJ to combat blue states' abortion laws. He stated, “We don’t have complete victory yet, but we will have victory, and victory will be soon.”
As the nomination moves to the full Senate, the timeline for a vote remains uncertain, with potential implications for the upcoming August recess.
“Trump remains highly supportive of the fund, writing on Truth Social that ‘these victims of government abuse should be paid back.’ Blanche separately vowed on a recorded call with anti-abortion activists to use the DOJ against blue-state shield laws for mail-order abortion drugs, promising ‘victory will be soon’ and that it would be ‘permanent.’”
The Guardian
The Independent
