美国参议院司法委员会以党派线投票通过了托德·布兰奇担任司法部长的提名[1]。布兰奇在书面确认中放弃了与一项18亿美元基金相关的职权[1]，该基金名为"反武器化基金"，由特朗普与美国国税局5月份和解时设立[1]。在书面确认中，布兰奇强调这一基金从未真正运作——未任命董事会、未转移资金、未提交或支付索赔[1]。
两名关键的共和党参议员支持了这一提名，使其得以推进到参议院全体投票阶段[1]。德克萨斯州参议员约翰·科恩因和北卡罗来纳州参议员托姆·蒂利斯是最关键的两票[1]。蒂利斯将该基金称为"坏人的金库"[1]，而科恩因表示："鉴于与布兰奇先生的这份协议，我预计司法部在未来诉讼中会遵守承诺"[1]。司法部随后澄清，税务豁免权仅限于原始和解中的申请人，不构成对未来审计的全面保护[1]。特朗普周末表示，如果布兰奇的确认被延迟，他将让其以代理身份留任并推动立法创建该基金[1]。
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Todd Blanche's nomination as Attorney General on a party-line vote, clearing the way for a full Senate floor vote [1]. The advancement follows Blanche's written commitment to abandon an $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund that had been established following Donald Trump's May settlement with the Internal Revenue Service [1].
In his written statement, Blanche emphasized that the fund never became operational, noting that no board of directors was appointed, no funds were transferred, and no claims were filed or paid [1]. The nomination secured crucial support from two Republican senators: John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, with Tillis characterizing the fund as a "payout pot for punks" [1]. Cornyn stated: "Given this agreement with Mr Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation" [1].
The Department of Justice clarified that any tax immunity stemming from the original settlement applies only to the applicants named in that agreement and does not provide blanket protection against future audits [1]. Trump indicated over the weekend that should Blanche's confirmation stall, he would maintain him in an acting capacity and pursue legislation to establish the fund [1].