Blanche withdraws Trump fund plan after Senate pressure
The acting US attorney general formally ended a disputed Justice Department proposal after Republican senators sought written assurance it would not return.
Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche has formally scrapped Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8bn Justice Department fund, after two Republican senators pressed for a written commitment before his confirmation hearing. The move removes a sticking point in Blanche’s bid to become attorney general.
According to the Justice Department order issued late on Sunday, the plan is terminated and will not proceed. Blanche had already said publicly that the proposal was finished, but lawmakers wanted that position put in writing.
The fund had drawn criticism because it was seen as a way to reward Trump allies and because the president had continued to back the idea. The written withdrawal was intended to address fears that the proposal could be revived later.
The dispute became part of negotiations over Blanche’s nomination, with the senators holding up the process until they received the formal assurance. The episode comes as the Justice Department faces scrutiny over how it handles politically sensitive decisions.
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