Trump says 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' is 'dead,' but says he still wants payouts

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"I'd like to see them compensated for the pain," the president said.

President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time Friday that the $1.8 billion so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is "dead," but made clear that he wishes it still existed. He also did not spell out why the end of the fund isn't being put in writing.

The fund and Trump's settlement with the IRS, which provided him and his family immunity from any existing audits of tax returns, has thrown a wrench in the nomination of Todd Blanche to be attorney general.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a key holdout on Blanche's nomination, is demanding the Department of Justice formally put on paper that the fund is not moving forward -- as Blanche testified under oath during his confirmation hearing.

"Do you agree with the acting attorney general that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is dead, and why not just put that in writing?" ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked Trump at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.

"Well, it is dead, but you know I wish it weren't, to be honest with you," Trump responded. "I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused ... and I'd like to see them compensated for the pain."

Trump then argued that Blanche, despite his role as acting attorney general, "shouldn't be in the middle of this."

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed voting Thursday on Blanche's nomination amid resistance from Cornyn, as well as Republican Sen. Thom Tillis -- both outgoing senators whose terms end in January.

Trump has floated the possibility of temporarily withdrawing Blanche's nomination until Cornyn and Tillis are out of office.

Cornyn, in addition to wanting written confirmation that the fund is dead, said he wants to see the scope of Trump's immunity deal with the IRS narrowed.

The president was asked if he was willing to accept limits on the scope of that deal in order to get Blanche approved to the post permanently.

"He should be approved forthwith," Trump said. "I mean, you're not going to get a person like that."