Cruz warns of Senate ‘revolt’ if White House, DOJ refuse to revise $1.8 billion weaponization fund

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is warning the White House that it could face a “full-on revolt in the Senate” unless the Trump administration revises a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that has triggered growing backlash among Republican lawmakers.

The dispute erupted after Senate Republicans held a tense closed-door meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss the fund, which was created as part of a settlement tied to President Donald Trump dropping lawsuits against the IRS and other federal entities.

Speaking afterward on his podcast, Cruz described the meeting as “one of the roughest meetings I’ve seen in my entire time in the Senate,” saying Republican senators were “screaming” at Blanche over concerns the fund could become politically toxic ahead of the midterm elections.

“If the administration doesn’t fix this, they’ve got a full-on revolt in the Senate,” Cruz said.

The proposed fund is intended to compensate individuals the administration says were victims of government “weaponization” or politically motivated prosecutions. 

“The legal basis is quite sound,” Cruz said.

Several GOP senators have objected to the lack of congressional oversight and the possibility that people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot could receive payouts, reports have said.