Critics denounce Blanche deal to halt Trump slush fund as 'completely hollow'

A compromise reached between acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and two Republican senators aimed at halting a controversial "weaponization fund" is being criticized as "completely hollow" by Democrats and legal experts. The deal, intended to clear the way for Blanche's confirmation, is seen as weak because it relies on promises Donald Trump can easily reverse.

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We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund. Additionally, the department has acknowledged in a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS and the treasury, addressing concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.

Blanche announced on Sunday evening the withdrawal of a May 18 order that allowed for the creation of a $1.8 billion fund. He also clarified that broad tax immunity granted to Trump by the Justice Department would only apply retroactively to the president, his sons, and their businesses. This agreement was brokered with Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had threatened to block Blanche's nomination and subsequently announced their support for him.

Despite the senators' satisfaction, legal experts and Democrats argue that Blanche's announcement lacks substance. Brandon DeBot, policy director at the Tax Law Center at NYU, stated, "These assurances are not worth the paper they're written on." He contends that the agreement does not prevent Trump from attempting to reinstate the fund or from pursuing unauthorized immunity from tax audits for himself, his family, and affiliates. DeBot emphasized the need for congressional action to provide a more robust solution.

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These assurances are not worth the paper they're written on. They don’t pull back on the ongoing attempts to give the president, his family, and his affiliates unauthorized immunity from tax audits. They don’t do anything new to stop the president from trying to bring back the fund, as he threatened to this weekend. It’s abundantly clear we need congressional action.

The documents released by Blanche only rescind the prior order establishing the fund, without altering the original settlement agreement that resulted from a Trump lawsuit. This settlement was reached after the unauthorized release of Trump's tax returns. Blanche himself acknowledged during his confirmation hearing that Trump or his sons could theoretically sue to enforce the agreement. Trump has continued to praise the fund, even threatening to revive it, and stated he was unaware of the details of Blanche's agreement.

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These hollow words are an affront to the American people, Congress and the courts, and are clearl