Todd Blanche rescinds 'anti-weaponization fund'. And, Trump calls off striking Iran
Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche has rescinded a controversial 'anti-weaponization fund' amid Senate opposition. Meanwhile, President Trump claims a deal is near with Iran, though the Department of Justice faces scrutiny over its use of Civil War-era statutes.
Why it matters
The withdrawal of the fund and the ongoing legal scrutiny of the DOJ reflect significant tensions in U.S. domestic policy and executive branch oversight.
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The U.S. Senate returns today with a packed agenda to tackle for its final session before a long recess until mid-September. On the to-do list is the confirmation hearing for President Trump's attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche. In a letter released last night, Blanche formally rescinded a plan for a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" to compensate people who allege they've been unfairly targeted by the federal government. Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have withheld support for Blanche's nomination because of their opposition to the fund, which was created as part of a settlement deal for a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS over leaked tax returns.
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