Trump's attorney general nominee CANCELS $1.8 billion slush fund for participants of Jan 6 attack on Capitol

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 05:24, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 05:29, 3 August 2026 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ended Donald Trump's $1.8 billion fund to compensate his political allies in a deal that will likely see him confirmed as the permanent AG this week. Trump delivered an ultimatum to Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn in a Truth Social post Saturday morning, threatening to push forward his 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' if they don't comply with his demand. The President had spoken of his plans to bring the fund back to life as recently as his Sunday evening press gaggle on Air Force One. However, on Sunday, after weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who were blocking his nomination to become attorney general, Blanche is terminating the fund.  A spokeswoman for Texas Senator John Cornyn, one of the senators holding up Blanche's nomination, confirmed the agreement late Sunday.  The other GOP senator, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, did not have immediate comment. The Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche is scheduled for Tuesday. 'My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,' Blanche said in a post on X.  Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ended Donald Trump's $1.8 billion fund to compensate his political allies in a deal that will likely see him confirmed as the permanent AG this week The President had spoken of his plans to bring the fund back to life as recently as his Sunday evening press gaggle on Air Force One 'We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order.' The order would also limit the scope of the settlement's immunity for Trump and members of his family from tax audits. While Blanche has repeatedly said publicly that the fund was dead, the Justice Department had resisted formally confirming that in writing.  That had drawn concern from lawmakers that it could be revived in some form, especially after Trump expressed continued support for the idea. The two sides have been negotiating for weeks, but Trump has said repeatedly during the talks that he thinks the fund should go forward. 'If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn't Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), aren't going to approve Todd Blanche, one of the most respected professionals, according to everybody, in the Country, to be the United States Attorney General, then I will keep Todd as Acting AG, and push hard' to restore the fund, Trump wrote Saturday. The president insisted, as he previously has, that the fund 'takes care of those who have been so badly treated' during the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. 'Todd Blanche was a voice of reason!' he continued. 'It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'  Earlier Sunday evening, Trump said that people who had faced charges from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and could have benefitted from the fund had 'their lives destroyed' Earlier Sunday evening, Trump said that people who had faced charges from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and could have benefitted from the fund had 'their lives destroyed.' 'This would be a reimbursement for the pain that they suffered,' Trump said. 'A lot of people like it.'