Trump Says He Never Signed Order Voiding $1.8 Billion DOJ Fund as GOP Backs Blanche
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Aug 3
Trump Says He Never Signed Order Voiding $1.8 Billion DOJ Fund as GOP Backs Blanche
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Aug 3
Summary
Trump told reporters Monday he neither signed nor reviewed Todd Blanche’s order rescinding the DOJ’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” undercutting claims the fund was definitively terminated.
The settlement creating the fund can be modified only with written agreement from the parties, and Blanche alone signed the order, leaving room for the fund to be revived or enforced in court.
Cornyn and Tillis nonetheless said the order satisfied their demands and pledged to advance Blanche’s nomination, with the Senate Judiciary Committee expected to vote Tuesday.
Legal critics called the rescission hollow, saying Blanche could restore the fund after confirmation and that the administration could still route money to allies through new funds or individual settlements.
The dispute stems from a May IRS settlement that also included a narrowed immunity deal for Trump, his eldest sons and the Trump Organization, though questions about that language also remain.