Durbin says Blanche called DOJ anti-weaponization fund a mistake
Sen. Dick Durbin says acting Attorney General Todd Blanche privately called the Trump administration's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund "a mistake" during a courtesy meeting before Blanche's Senate confirmation hearing. Durbin told reporters Blanche also said he does not want the fund to move forward, but has not put that pledge in writing.
The Illinois Democrat, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, shared the account with reporters Tuesday on the eve of Wednesday's hearing on Blanche's nomination to lead the Justice Department permanently. The disclosure landed as Democrats prepared to press Blanche on one of the most controversial moves of his acting tenure.
Key Takeaways
- Durbin says Blanche told him: "What more can I do? What more can I say? I made a mistake."
- The $1.776 billion fund was tied to a settlement connected to President Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit.
- Blanche has told lawmakers the Justice Department is "not moving forward with the fund. Period," but has resisted putting that position in writing.
- Durbin says Blanche offered to work with Congress to "codify" the fund's end after the senator pressed for a more credible commitment.
- The Justice Department pushed back after Durbin disclosed the alleged private admission to reporters.
What did Dick Durbin say Todd Blanche admitted?
According to The Hill, Durbin described a one-on-one meeting with Blanche on Capitol Hill ahead of the confirmation hearing. When outrage over the fund came up, Durbin said Blanche responded: "What more can I do? What more can I say? I made a mistake."
Durbin also told reporters that Blanche said he does not want to see the weaponization fund go forward. The senator said he urged Blanche to put that statement in writing to make it more credible.
On social media, Durbin discussed the meeting but did not mention the "mistake" admission in that post. Instead, he listed concerns including the Epstein files, the Trump-IRS deal, and what he called a "MAGA slush fund for cop beaters," according to The Daily Beast.
Why does the anti-weaponization fund matter?
The Justice Department announced the nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim the federal government was politically weaponized against them. It was created as part of a settlement tied to Trump's IRS lawsuit.
The proposal drew bipartisan condemnation. The Daily Beast reported the fund was meant to compensate Trump allies who claim they were wrongfully persecuted, including those convicted of attacking police during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
A federal judge also found the Justice Department and Trump colluded in dismissing the case and crafting the fund. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled the suit was "brought to manipulate the judicial process." Durbin said Blanche told him he believed he was the victim of a "hit job" by the judge in Florida.
Will Congress codify the end of the fund?
Blanche has said publicly that the department is not moving forward with the fund, but he has resisted calls to confirm that cancellation in writing. Durbin said that when he pressed for something more binding, Blanche told him he would work with Congress to codify that the fund is gone and will not be used again.
Durbin characterized that response as a "very weak defense." The fund is expected to be a key line of attack during Blanche's confirmation hearing, alongside questions about the Epstein files and the IRS settlement.
For more on the stranger side of Washington power plays, see our Bizarre World coverage.
How has the Justice Department responded?
After Durbin went public with Blanche's alleged private admission, the Justice Department lashed out at the Democratic senator, The Daily Beast reported.
Durbin described Blanche as a skilled lawyer who could dodge tough questions at the hearing, comparing his manner to something close to an "aw shucks" style. Wednesday's hearing was set to test whether Blanche's private regret translates into a permanent, enforceable end to the fund.