Blanche Ends Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund After GOP Senators Lift Objections

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order late Sunday terminating President Donald Trump's proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" for his political allies.

Blanche said the Justice Department would not proceed with the fund, which was intended to compensate individuals who believed they had been unfairly prosecuted. [Illustration: DonkeyHotey Flickr]

The move followed weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who had been blocking his nomination to become attorney general, Mary Clare Jalonick and Alanna Durkin Richer reported for the The Associated Press (AP).

A spokeswoman for Texas Sen. John Cornyn, one of the senators delaying Blanche's nomination, confirmed the agreement ahead of Tuesday's confirmation vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The other Republican senator, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, did not immediately comment.

During a June hearing, Blanche said the Justice Department would not proceed with the fund, which was intended to compensate individuals who believed they had been unfairly prosecuted.

Cornyn and Tillis, both members of the Judiciary Committee, said they wanted that commitment in writing before endorsing Blanche's nomination, particularly as Trump continued to express support for the proposal.

Blanche said the order followed "good faith discussions." "My team and I have met with committee members and senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions," he said.