Deadline Looms for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Comply with Court Order on Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing a deadline to comply with a judge's order regarding President Donald Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund. The judge had given Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent until Friday afternoon to submit sworn declarations confirming the termination of the fund, but as of Friday morning, no filings had been made. Journalist Scott MacFarlane noted the lack of activity on the court docket, indicating a lack of compliance with the court order.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema had previously extended the block on the fund after finding Blanche's verbal assurances to Congress insufficient. She emphasized the importance of written sworn declarations from both officials, citing Trump's own statements expressing a desire to proceed with the fund. The fund, created through a private settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, raised concerns about potentially funding Jan. 6 defendants, including those convicted of assaulting police officers.
Pooja Boistute, senior counsel at Democracy Forward, expressed skepticism about Blanche and Bessent's willingness to comply with the court's order, highlighting the lack of evidence supporting the termination of the fund. Georgetown Law professor Marty Lederman suggested that Blanche could face a criminal contempt trial in another court over deportation flights that defied a court order in March 2025. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, criticized the administration for failing to provide sworn statements confirming the end of the Slush Fund.
If Blanche and Bessent submit the required declarations, the preliminary injunction will remain in place. However, if they fail to do so, the court has indicated that the case will proceed with the injunction intact. The deadline for compliance with the judge's order is looming, and the outcome will determine the future of the Anti-Weaponization Fund.