Trump Doubles Down on $1.8 Billion Fund for Jan. 6 Defendants, Undermining Justice and Blanche Nomination
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President Trump lamented the demise of a $1.8 billion fund designed to shield Jan. 6 insurrectionists, casting doubt on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination as Republican senators block his confirmation over the controversial settlement.
At a Cabinet meeting on Friday, President Donald Trump openly regretted the apparent end of his administration’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, intended to support individuals charged for their roles in the violent January 6 insurrection. Calling the fund 'dead, but you know, I wish it weren’t,' Trump once again sided with those who attacked democracy, describing them as 'horribly treated, horribly abused.' This statement directly contradicts Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s claims that the proposal was abandoned, further fueling tensions with Republican senators who are now blocking Blanche’s nomination for chief law-enforcement officer.
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have halted the nomination, citing the ethically questionable settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service that created the fund. Tillis highlighted on social media that Trump’s comments suggest the fund is still active, justifying the Senate’s efforts to dismantle it. Cornyn criticized the administration’s refusal to provide a written statement confirming the fund’s termination, casting doubt on Blanche’s integrity during his confirmation hearing.
This internal Republican dispute has derailed a $70 billion appropriations bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol, and delayed Blanche’s confirmation until after the Senate’s summer recess. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley postponed a vote on the nomination, demanding clarity on the IRS settlement.
Trump, meanwhile, took to his right-wing social media platform, Truth Social, to attack Cornyn, suggesting the senator’s opposition is revenge for Trump’s support of a primary challenger in Texas. Trump outrageously labeled the Jan. 6 defendants as 'great American Patriots,' perpetuating the dangerous myth that these individuals were victims of the Biden administration, and called for Blanche’s immediate approval.
Adding to the chaos, Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization have appealed a district court ruling that found their IRS lawsuit was filed in bad faith to shield themselves from accountability. This legal maneuver further complicates the already fraught confirmation process.
Other Republican senators, such as Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have voiced concerns about the potential weaponization of the Justice Department, exposing deep fractures within the party and further jeopardizing Blanche’s nomination.