Senate Republicans on Thursday hauled acting AG Todd Blanche into a meeting that turned toxic, according to Senate sources, to air grievances about the anti-weaponization slush fund that would compensate Trump’s criminal allies.
GOP Senators vented their anger at Blanche who refused to allow lawmakers any guardrails to limit who receives payouts, or giving Congress more oversight of those appointed to administer the payouts. In particular, the Senators were big mad that insurrectionists convicted of crimes on January 6 could be paid off.
One GOP Senator said, “It was a screaming fest,” as Blanche refused to give in to demands surrounding the president’s “slush fund.” The same Senator also described Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over John Cornyn as the “straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Senators who voiced their displeasure included Thom Tillis, Rand Paul, Katie Britt, and Bill Cassidy.
Another person familiar with the meeting described it as “mutinous” and said more than 20 senators spoke up to express their frustrations.
Senators are leaving for the weekend without voting on a massive reconciliation bill that Trump has wanted to sign by June 1, which is when the Senate will reconvene. The $70 billion bill covers tax cuts, energy policy, as well as ICE and Border Patrol funding.
House leadership also canceled a vote on a war powers act that was poised to rebuke the president on the Iran war.