More than a dozen Republican senators have reportedly asked President Donald Trump’s top aides to get rid of the nearly $1.8 billion so-called “slush fund” that could allow allies, such as January 6 rioters, to obtain millions in taxpayers’ money.
Lawmakers, politicians, commentators and members of the public have expressed outrage at the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” created by the Justice Department, that would permit those who believe they were unfairly prosecuted under the Obama and Biden administrations to seek payments.
But as the president faces a record-low approval rating, some allies have expressed concern that the image of the multi-billion-dollar fund, amid high gas prices and rising grocery costs, could hurt Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Even loyalists, such as Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have privately urged Trump to drop the fund, according to the report.
Publicly, some Republicans have joined Democrats in openly condemning the fund. Senator Thom Tillis called it “stupid on stilts,” while Senator Mitch McConnell deemed it “Utterly stupid, morally wrong.” Senator John Curtis declared he did not like the fund “at all.”
The Independent has asked Graham’s office, the White House and Justice Department for comment.
Democrats have slammed what the so-called “slush-fund,” calling it “depraved,” a “fraud on the country and the country,” a “gross misuse of taxpayer dollars,” and more.
The new report about private conversations comes after Senator Ted Cruz revealed Republican colleagues were “screaming” at Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a closed-door meeting about the fund last week.
Blanche, who announced the creation of the“Anti-Weaponization Fund” as a settlement of a lawsuit between Trump, his adult sons and his business against the IRS, allegedly faced intense pushback from members of the president’s own party.
“Fiery does not begin to cut it,” Cruz explained on his podcast “Verdict with Ted Cruz.”
“My guess is there’re probably 45 senators in the room, at least half of them were blasting the attorney general, and they were pissed,” Cruz added.
Lawmakers were so taken off guard by the creation of the fund that it delayed a vote in the Senate to fund the president’s signature agenda – immigration enforcement.
As a result, some of the president’s aides have considered axing the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” in exchange for getting immigration enforcement funding passed, those familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
Already, the fund has faced legal challenges that have temporarily paused it from taking effect. On Friday, a federal judge ordered the administration to cease moving forward with the fund until she determined whether it should be paused longer.
Administration officials are reportedly growing concerned about the viability of the fund and while Trump has not agreed to drop it, he has told allies he understands the problem, the Wall Street Journal reported.
