Blanche could remain as acting AG, Trump says
By: Emily R. Condon
USA today
..... In the latest public spat between President Donald Trump and two Republican senators, the president offered a new threat: approve Todd Blanche as attorney general or the "anti-weaponization fund' returns.
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"It will immediatl4ey be back on the table, and I will get it done," trump wrote on an August 1 [2026] Truth Social post which said acting Attorney General Blanche, who is also Trump's former personal lawyer, would stay in his "acting" position and bring back the fund if not confirmed.
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Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, of North Carolina and Texas, respectively, ear stalling the confirmation process amid questions about Trump's "anti-weaponization fund," the $1,776 billion department of Justice fund that would offer taxpayer dollars to individuals backlash and legal challenges. Blanche helped settle a lawsuit between Trump and his own IRS that created the fund, and on July 21, [2026] the president appealed a ruling hat blocked access to the fund.
..... Trump said in his new post that the fund "takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration, " but Tillis responded in a post that it is a "payout pot for punks." Critics of the fund see it as a way for Trump's political allies and those pardoned for the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol to cash in on taxpayer dollars.
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"It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal," Tillis said in a post. "Hopefully, we can resolve this by "Tuesday [August 4]/" [2026]
..... On august 4, [2026] the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Tillis and Cornyn are members, will meet to potentially advance the confirmation process. The full Senate must eventually vote to finalize Blanche's confirmation. Senate Judiciary Chair chuck Grassley canceled a July 30 [2026] vote to advance the confirmation. The spot has been vacant since Trump fired former Hootenanny General Pam Bondi in April. [2026]
.... Tillis and Cornyn also object to an IRS deal that would prevent tax audits of trump and his associates.
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Trump has wavered on demands. on July 30, [2026] he weighed pulling Blanche's nomination until Tillis, who is not running for reelection, and Cornyn, who lost to a Trump-backed Republican challenger in the primary, are out of office in a few months.
..... The next day, July 31, [2026] Trump called on the two senators to "immediacy" confirm Blanche, and he field his appeal to reopen access to the fund. Earlier that day at his Camp David Cabinet meeting, Trump said the "anti-weaponizaiton fund" was dead but "I wish it weren't."
..... Contributing: Reuters