Trump's DOJ 'Simply Refuses' To Formally Restrict IRS Settlement, Senator Says

The Trump administration refuses to modify the IRS' controversial settlement with President Donald Trump and formally rescind its 'anti-weaponization' fund, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters Wednesday, even though the Justice Department holding firm on the settlement could derail Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether Blanche's nomination as attorney general should move forward to a full Senate vote, and with Democrats unilaterally opposing Blanche, every single Republican senator needs to vote for him for his nomination to move forward. Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have suggested they could oppose Blanche unless the DOJ makes 'written modifications' to the IRS settlement, which included a $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' for people who feel the judicial system was 'weaponized' against them and an agreement that appears to give Trump, his eldest sons and other parties widespread legal immunity. Cornyn wants the DOJ to formally rescind the anti-weaponization fund in writing — after Blanche has already claimed in Congressional testimony that the fund is 'dead' — and restrict the immunity agreement's scope. 'I haven't seen a single piece of writing that is responsive to what I've requested,' Cornyn told reporters Wednesday. 'Maybe they think I'm just going to give up or, you know, go along, but they're mistaken.' Cornyn cancelled a planned meeting with Blanche on Wednesday morning and said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, had set a 4 p.m. EDT deadline to determine whether the vote on Blanche will take place Thursday, or if it will get postponed because he doesn't have the necessary votes. Tillis said lawmakers and the DOJ have 'pretty much agreed to' language around the anti-weaponization fund, though the immunity deal remains more of a sticking point. The DOJ told Forbes on Wednesday it sent Cornyn's office a 'written proposal' Tuesday and 'looks forward to further discussion around any outstanding concerns.' Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., suggested to reporters Wednesday he also still had concerns about Blanche's nomination. 'I have to make sure that he is the attorney general who used to be the president's personal attorney, not the personal attorney who is also the attorney general,' Cassidy said.