Todd Blanche kills Trump’s $1.8 billion fund before key Senate vote
What’s next: The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to take up Blanche’s attorney general nomination Tuesday after two Republicans dropped their hold.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded the order creating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, removing the main obstacle to a Senate committee vote on his nomination to become attorney general. The move came after weeks of pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had demanded written proof that the fund would be scrapped before backing him. The Justice Department order says no board members were appointed, no money was transferred, no claims process was set up and no payments were made. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider Blanche’s nomination on Tuesday.