Todd Blanche formally rescinds Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced late Sunday that he formally rescinded President Donald Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund, in an apparent effort to remove the main obstacle stalling his nomination to head the Justice Department.

"The attorney general's May 18, 2026, order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund is rescinded and shall have no force or effect," the order Blanche published on social media said.

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary was scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to advance his nomination to the full Senate, but Republicans postponed the meeting when it became known that they did not have the votes because of opposition from Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina to the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund.

On Saturday, Trump lashed out at the two GOP senators and said he would ask Congress to appropriate the $1.776 billion to create the fund.

"It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done," Trump said online.

Responding to the statement, Tillis said it was proof that Trump intended 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."

"It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal," Tillis said.

The effect of Blanche's announcement on Trump's proposal to go through Congress was not immediately clear.

The fund was part of a settlement Trump's lawyers reached with the Trump administration's Internal Revenue Service to resolve a $10 billion lawsuit the president and his two oldest sons filed against the government for damages caused by a since-convicted and -imprisoned contractor who leaked his tax returns for 2019 and 2020 to news organizations.

Though Blanche had said the fund was dead and federal prosecutors had told the courts it was no longer included in the settlement, the GOP lawmakers were seeking assurances in writing that it would not be revived.

Neither Cornyn nor Tillis had publicly commented on Blanche's Sunday announcement.

"My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding issues," Blanche, Trump's personal lawyer, said in a statement.

"We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of congress."

The $1.776 billion fund was intended to compensate people, with taxpayer money, who claim to be similarly victimized by the previous Justice Department, including those convicted of offenses related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attack on the Capitol. More than 1,500 Jan. 6 convicts were pardoned by Trump on his first day back in office.