The Senate voted 52-47 to approve the legislation, with no support from Democrats and no provision to ban a US$1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund that could compensate Trump’s political allies for allegations that the government mistreated them. One Republican voted against the bill.
Senate Republican Leader John Thune said the fund was a “settled issue”, citing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s congressional testimony this week that the Department of Justice would not move forward with it, though Democrats have said his word was insufficient.
Trump subsequently said he intended to nominate Blanche to lead the Justice Department – an action that would require Senate confirmation. Thune has indicated that it could be an uphill battle to get such a nomination approved in the Senate.
“I find it very hard to believe that they’re going to submit somebody who sat in front of a committee in the House and made definitive statements about this and then somehow all of a sudden turn around and go back on them,” Thune told reporters. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Nonetheless, Trump himself on Wednesday said the establishment of the fund was important.
