In his first news conference since his narrow confirmation as attorney general, Todd Blanche again reiterated that the Justice Department’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” will not be revived after President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier this week that its future would be Blanche’s to decide.
“I keep on saying this over and over again, but I’m happy to say it one more time,” Blanche said in response to a question from ABC News. “I have testified under oath that it’s dead. I have testified in front of the House where I wasn’t under oath where I said it was dead. I have answered questions after my hearing where I said that it was dead, I have rescinded the order that that set up the weaponization fund, which means that it does not exist.”
He added, “I’m not sure how I can further say that the anti-weaponization fund doesn’t exist, or we use the word ‘dead.’ But if anybody has any ideas, we also have said under oath that if Congress would like to make it a law, that we would support that, as would the White House.”
At the same time, Blanche suggested the department would entertain other means to pay out so-called “victims” of “weaponization” under the Biden Administration, as President Trump has repeatedly said he wants.
“The president feels very strongly, as do I, that there were people who were victims of a Department of Justice that was absolutely weaponized, and he feels very strongly that that he would want to — to make them whole, as do I, but it will not be through the Anti-Weaponization Fund,” Blanche said.
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