Blanche says DOJ "not moving forward" with "anti-weaponization" fund

Washington — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said connected Tuesday that the Justice Department is not moving guardant with its $1.8 cardinal "anti-weaponization" fund that has go a large obstacle to the GOP docket successful Congress.

"We are not moving guardant with the fund. Period," helium told lawmakers connected the House Appropriations Committee. 

"Not moving guardant ever?" Democratic Rep. Grace Meng of New York asked. 

"Correct," Blanche responded. 

Meng asked whether Blanche would enactment that committedness successful writing. He responded that it would beryllium successful penning done a transcript of the hearing.

Blanche's grounds comes a time aft the Justice Department said it volition stop enactment connected the fund pursuing a territory judge's determination temporarily blocking the constitution of the program.

The money faced aggravated pushback from Republicans connected Capitol Hill, who warned that it threatened to imperil the GOP agenda. Some Republicans continued to explicit reservations Tuesday that prevented leaders from moving guardant with backing the Department of Homeland Security's migration enforcement agencies.

Whether Blanche's grounds proves definitive capable to triumph implicit GOP detractors remains to beryllium seen. The constitution of the money was besides portion of a ineligible settlement, raising questions astir however precisely Blanche intends to wantonness the program.

The money aimed to supply taxpayer-funded payouts to individuals who alleged the national authorities had been "weaponized" against them. But Republican absorption to the program led GOP leaders to scrap a ballot connected the DHS backing precocious past month. Democrats threatened to unit votes connected amendments connected the fund, putting Republicans successful a hard position. And with immoderate GOP members apt to articulation Democrats, GOP leaders opted to wantonness their plans and permission municipality for a weeklong recess. 

Ahead of Blanche's grounds connected Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said senators had a "robust conversation" astir the money and however to proceed astatine their GOP luncheon meeting, portion pointing retired that Blanche would attest aboriginal successful the afternoon.

"I had a speech with him a mates hours ago, successful which helium benignant of previewed what helium was going to say," Thune said. "And I deliberation his statements are going to beryllium precise definitive, precise clear, and make this certainty that I anticipation each of our members and House members request arsenic good successful bid for america to proceed connected the reconciliation bill."

But Thune added, "I'm not guaranteeing that happens yet," saying conversations proceed with GOP members. 

"Everything dumbs down to a relation of mathematics — it's, bash we person the votes? Do we person 50 votes to execute connected getting a measure similar that crossed the floor?" helium said. "We person to person Republicans hanging unneurotic successful bid to bash that."

Thune affirmed to CBS News up of the grounds that it's his knowing that the money is disconnected the table.

Senate Republicans leaving the luncheon gathering indicated that they would beryllium looking to Blanche's grounds for assurances, similar Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who said "if it goes similar we are told it volition go, there's a tenable anticipation we volition determination beauteous rapidly to the reconciliation."

But Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican and the erstwhile GOP whip, told CBS News, "I'm not definite that's going to beryllium bully capable for immoderate people."