Trump ties Todd Blanche vote to revival of $1.8 billion fund
What's next: The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to meet Tuesday, with two Republican holdouts seeking a written pledge that the fund stays shelved.
President Donald Trump threatened to revive a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund if two Republican senators keep blocking Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general. Blanche, who has served in the job on an acting basis since April, needs support from all Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas have withheld backing while pressing for written assurance that the Justice Department will not bring back the fund later. Trump wrote Saturday that if Blanche is not approved, he would keep him as acting attorney general and push to restore the fund. Tillis said Blanche is qualified but warned Trump still appears determined to revive payouts the majority of Senate Republicans oppose.