GOP 'deal' collapses in Todd Blanche nomination fight
journalismAug 3, 202615357
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted written assurances that he has rescinded the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and that any IRS immunity for Donald Trump would be retroactive only. Blanche filed a lone "order" about the fund and a separate unsigned statement about the IRS matter; neither document amends the underlying settlement in the Trump-IRS litigation and no new court filing shows a change to that lawsuit. Sen. John Cornyn argued only the parties to the original settlement can amend it and noted Blanche alone signed the order, raising questions about legal force. Sen. Thom Tillis said Blanche met the conditions he had demanded and announced his support, ending the pair's ostensible holdout. The article reports Blanche has refused in related litigation to declare the slush fund dead under penalty of perjury, and observers describe the written assurances as vague and legally unenforceable. The result is that Blanche secured the two Republican votes but left the central concessions without clear court-recognized authority.
