Blanche to Speak With Republicans as DOJ Settlement Faces Uproar

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will huddle with Republicans Thursday as lawmakers probe a government settlement with President Donald Trump that would pay out $1.8 billion to people who were victims of government “weaponization.”

Blanche is scheduled to meet with members of Congress on Thursday morning, according to two Senate aides.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Thursday that Republicans want to “hear an explanation of how it’s going to work,” referring to the weaponization fund.

“We want to hear the Attorney General out about his view of this, and what they intend to do with that,” Thune said, adding that Republicans have “very legitimate questions” about the fund and want to “make sure that it’s fenced in appropriately.”

Spokespeople for the Department of Justice did not immediately comment on the meeting.

The discussion could represent a make-or-break moment for Republicans’ roughly $72 billion budget bill that they hope to send to Trump’s desk by the end of the week.

While it’s primarily aimed at funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, an initial draft includes $1.457 billion for DOJ.

Separately, Republicans are likely to strip the bill’s $1 billion for the Secret Service that the agency has said would partially fund hardening Trump’s proposed ballroom in the East Wing of the White House.