Senate Democrats spent Tuesday hammering a deal that supposedly cleared the way for Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination, calling it a collection of loopholes that fails to permanently kill President Trump's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund or roll back a sweeping immunity order shielding the president and his family from federal investigations.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, along with GOP Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (N.C.), unveiled the agreement as a formal end to the fund, which had become a lightning rod for critics who saw it as a political slush fund. The Senate Judiciary Committee subsequently approved Blanche's nomination along party lines.
"It's done. It's been rescinded, and I am satisfied," Tillis told reporters after the vote.
But the two memos Blanche released Sunday night do not legally bind the parties to the underlying lawsuit, leaving open the possibility that Trump could ask a court to resurrect the fund. That concern first surfaced from Cornyn, who pressed Blanche to put the termination in writing. The memos also do not touch the May 19 directive granting Trump, his adult children, and their businesses retroactive immunity from any government inquiry into past conduct—including IRS audits that could produce a tax bill approaching $100 million.
During a marathon hearing that stretched past two hours, Democrats on the panel picked apart the deal's weaknesses. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) dismissed the documents as "decorative," asserting they "have no legal effect whatsoever." Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) went further, labeling the arrangement a "sham," and quipped that calling it a loophole was too generous.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) turned to a ranching metaphor: "This is all hat and no cattle. It's hard for me to say this as a plant-based guy, but where's the beef? Where's the beef? This is ridiculous. We got nothing, no guarantees whatsoever that this slush fund still can't go forward. We got nothing that the president of the United States can't cheat on his taxes and have no accountability."
Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) stressed that Blanche's statements are not signed by the parties to the settlement agreement, making them unenforceable. "The parties could still sue to enforce the agreement, and the cop beaters fund can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general," Durbin said, noting Trump has openly signaled his intent to do so.
Outside groups that challenged the fund in court also voiced skepticism. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said the administration cannot substitute a "late-night social media post" for legally binding action. She pointed out that the fund is currently blocked only because her group secured a court order, and urged the Justice Department to file a sworn declaration and amend the agreement to prevent revival.
Cornyn, for his part, defended the deal while acknowledging its limits. "There's nothing we could do to rein in the president when he said he likes the fund and he wishes it still exists, but the fact of the matter is it's dead, and that's all we can do," he told reporters.
The immunity memo, which remains in force, bars any government agency from investigating or prosecuting the Trump family for actions before May 19. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called it "the mother of all sweetheart deals." In a statement, Raskin noted that Blanche's latest memo actually confirms the original order's scope, protecting Trump and his businesses from any claims or investigations for conduct predating the memo.
The fight over Blanche's nomination has drawn attention from outside groups and activists, including an Epstein survivor who criticized Cornyn's vote. Meanwhile, Democrats are facing pressure from their base to escalate opposition to the administration, with some Harris voters urging stronger pushback.
Blanche's broader agenda has also sparked controversy, particularly his pledge to enshrine Dobbs nationwide and target abortion pills by mail. The deal's fragility has raised questions about whether Cornyn and Tillis can hold the line, as new GOP hurdles emerge despite their pact.
As the nomination moves to the full Senate, Democrats are vowing to keep the pressure on, even as they acknowledge the deal's loopholes may be difficult to close.
