Blanche also clarified that the written order did not imply that the fund had ever been operational.
“No Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid,” the retraction order said. “This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.”
In a joint statement Monday, Cornyn and Tillis said they were “pleased” by Blanche’s decision and “look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.”
The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on whether Blanche should replace Pam Bondi as Attorney General on Tuesday. With Tillis and Cornyn back in his corner, Blanche is expected to move forward without further Republican opposition.
Could Trump revive the fund?
The “anti-weaponization fund” stemmed from the Justice Department’s settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. It was formally established May 18.
