Key facts
- Committee vote
- Expected Tuesday
- Deal reached
- Late Sunday between Blanche and GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis
- Fund amount
- $1.8 billion
- Blanche's order
- Confirmed 'beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund'
- Tax audit immunity
- Applies only to claims open at settlement time; covers only Trump, two sons, and Trump Organization
- Trump's lawsuit
- $10 billion against IRS
Background
Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and key member of President Donald Trump's defense team, arrived at the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general. He was elevated to acting attorney general following Attorney General Pam Bondi's failure to meet Trump's demands to successfully prosecute his perceived political opponents.
While Blanche insisted he wasn't auditioning for the permanent post, he moved swiftly to accelerate investigations into Trump foes and advance other White House priorities, drawing condemnation from critics who say he has not shed his title as Trump's personal lawyer.
Current situation
A Senate committee is expected to vote Tuesday to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to lead the Justice Department after the former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump secured the support of Republican senators who threatened to block his confirmation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's vote follows a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had demanded written assurances about the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over his leaked tax returns.
Cornyn and Tillis had said they were withholding their support unless the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it was not moving forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the Trump administration had announced as part of the settlement.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fund amount | $1.8 billion |
| Trump's lawsuit amount | $10 billion |
| Senators who reached deal | John Cornyn (TX), Thom Tillis (NC) |
| Date of committee vote | Tuesday |
| Date of deal | Late Sunday |
Impacts
After days of negotiations, Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming 'beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.' Since the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS was announced, 'No Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid,' the order said.
Cornyn and Tillis had also pressed for clarification on a separate part of the settlement that would grant Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits. Under the deal, the Justice Department clarified in writing that the tax audit immunity agreement applies only to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect Trump from examination of future tax filings. It also makes clear that only the parties that brought the lawsuit — Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization — are covered by the tax agreement.
Democrats say Blanche's order doesn't go far enough to prevent the Trump administration from reviving the fund after the acting attorney general's confirmation and have called for legislation to permanently bar it. The order also doesn't stop the administration from compensating Trump allies — including people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — through a previously established process that allows people to file claims for damages if they believed they were wronged by the government.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the committee advances Blanche's nomination, it would move to a full Senate vote, where his confirmation could still face hurdles. However, the deal with Cornyn and Tillis may ease his path, as they had been key holdouts.
Should Blanche be confirmed, Democrats may push for legislation to permanently bar the $1.8 billion fund, but such a measure would likely face opposition in a Republican-controlled Congress. The order does not prevent the administration from using a previously established process to compensate Trump allies, which could remain a point of contention.
Blanche's ability to maintain independence from the White House will likely continue to be scrutinized, especially given his past role as Trump's personal lawyer and his actions since becoming acting attorney general, including the indictment of James Comey and the appointment of Joseph diGenova to oversee a Florida-based investigation.
Source: wtvq.com
