Sen. Ted Cruz says Blanche faced "full-on revolt" over "anti-weaponization fund" in meeting with GOP senators
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Republican Senator Ted Cruz described a two-hour meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the Justice Department's new $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" as highly contentious, with senators expressing strong opposition.
- The fund, part of a settlement resolving President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, aims to compensate individuals claiming political persecution, but it sparked bipartisan concern and threatened to derail Senate votes on an unrelated border security funding package.
- Cruz reported that about half of the 45 Republican senators present were angry, accusing the Justice Department of self-dealing and yelling at Blanche during the meeting.
- Blanche assured senators that former President Trump, his family, and violent Jan. 6 Capitol riot participants would not be eligible for payouts from the fund, though some Jan. 6 defendants have expressed intent to apply.
- Following the meeting, Senate votes on amendments related to the fund were canceled, and the Justice Department emphasized that the fund is separate from the reconciliation package funding sought by the President.