Todd Blanche Tells Senate Panel the $1.776 Billion Settlement Fund Is Terminated

Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15 for his confirmation hearing to become permanent attorney general. Blanche, who previously won Senate confirmation as deputy attorney general, faced questions from both parties on a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund created earlier in 2026 as part of a settlement with President Trump to end his IRS lawsuit over leaked tax returns.

Blanche stated that the fund is dead and that no money would be paid out.

A federal judge on July 13 criticized the settlement and the fund, calling it an attempt to use the court to legitimize earmarking billions of dollars from American taxpayers. Blanche said he did not participate directly in negotiations for the settlement but engaged in conversations about settling the lawsuit. Sen.

John Cornyn, R-Texas, questioned Blanche about the settlement using an enlarged poster board. Blanche confirmed that the settlement is an enforceable contract and that Trump's attorneys could potentially try to enforce it. Sen.

Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, suggested that Congress should codify the end of the fund into law. Blanche stated that he is President Trump's lawyer and was his lawyer before becoming deputy attorney general. He represented Trump in the federal classified documents and election obstruction cases.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, said Blanche's relationship with Trump casts a shadow over ideas of independence. Blanche defended the Justice Department's record on combating violent crime, fighting fraud, and arresting drug cartels, child abusers, and gang members.

He said he did not celebrate pardons for Jan. 6 rioters but that the department had to dismiss cases once the president issued the pardons. A handful of Jeffrey Epstein victims sat behind Blanche during the hearing.

Blanche stated that the Biden administration did nothing to be transparent about the Epstein case and that the current Justice Department has been extraordinarily transparent in producing records. Sen. Dick Durbin said it took a bipartisan Congress to pass a law to force the administration to release the Epstein documents.