WASHINGTON (AURN News) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has pulled the plug on one of the most controversial pieces of President Donald Trump’s Justice Department agenda — a nearly $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate people who say they were targeted for political reasons.
Critics had warned the payouts could extend to people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Blanche signed the order late Sunday night, ending weeks of tension with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who said they would not back his confirmation as attorney general unless the fund was eliminated.
Blanche said his team had engaged in “good-faith discussions” with lawmakers to get it done.
The timing is no coincidence. The Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Blanche’s confirmation today. Eliminating the fund clears his path to confirmation.
If the committee approves his nomination, he could be confirmed before the Senate heads into its five-week recess.
Trump has defended the fund, telling reporters his supporters deserve to be compensated for their “pain.”
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
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