Ted Cruz says Blanche fund drew GOP pushback over $1.776 billion
ted cruz said Senate Republicans pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over a $1.776 billion compensation fund the Justice Department announced for people Republicans say were victims of government weaponization. Blanche appeared before a congressional panel on Tuesday morning asking for money to run his department, then faced questions about the fund’s source and legality.
The Justice Department said the plaintiffs would receive a formal apology, but no monetary payment or damages of any kind. The same statement said they agreed to drop their pending lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw two administrative claims, including claims for damages from the unlawful raid of Mar-a-Lago and the Russia-collusion hoax.
John Kennedy on the money
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said, “I realize it's a lot of money,” and added, “I want to understand where the money comes from. Do we find it in the budget? Do we have to borrow it? There's just a lot of unanswered questions.” His comments focused on whether the fund would come from existing federal money or require borrowing.
The size of the fund is part of what drew attention inside the Senate GOP. reported division among congressional Republicans over the roughly $1.8 billion compensation fund, while the Justice Department put the figure at $1.776 billion. That gap has left senators pressing for the exact mechanism behind the payout before they are asked to deal with it as a federal spending item.
Jerry Moran's legality concerns
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said, “What I want to know is how the fund is created and what its purpose is,” and, “And (I want to know) the legality of creating a fund that Congress hasn't had anything to say about.” His comments put the focus on whether the executive branch can create that kind of compensation structure without Congress weighing in first.
The fund was described as compensation for people Republicans say were victims of government weaponization, and the source said it would not go to President Donald Trump. The same account said his political allies and donors could benefit, which is why the structure itself became the dispute rather than only the dollar amount.
Congress and Blanche
Blanche’s appearance came while he was asking lawmakers for money to run the Justice Department, a routine budget duty for cabinet secretaries that took on a different shape here because of the fund attached to the same political moment. Kennedy and Moran both zeroed in on where the money would come from, how it would be created, and whether Congress had any role at all.
Those questions now frame the next step for senators: whether they accept Blanche’s explanation for the fund’s legal basis and financing, or keep pressing for a congressional role before the department can move ahead with the $1.776 billion plan.
