When Todd Blanche, the acting US Attorney General, arrived at the Capitol to meet with Republicans who questioned the fund “anti-instrumentalization†of his ministry – a fund that Donald Trump wants to use to compensate people who believe they have been unfairly targeted by Joe Biden’s government – “the eye undoubtedly expected a few discordant voices†, tell The New York Times.
But what happened Thursday morning under the auspices of the Senate, “a stone’s throw from the hemicycle†, It is “a heated two-hour confrontation, during which dozens of Republican senators vented their anger and concerns about this presidential fund†.
“They questioned its legal basis, the identity of the beneficiaries as well as the operating methods of the process… compensation, specifies the daily.
The effect of a “bomb”
“The discontent aroused by this fund†– and the vague answers provided to elected officials by Mr. Blanche – “a contribué à la décision abrupte des sénateurs†to leave Washington for the Memorial Day parliamentary recess, rather than vote on the bill to finance the immigration police (ICE) and the border police (CBP), although dear to Donald Trump, reports The Hill.
The adoption of the text, which provides for a budget of 70 billion dollars (60 billion euros) over three years for ICE and the CBP, was to be a formality for the Senate with a Republican majority, but now has no chance of taking place before the 1isJune, deadline set by Trump.
For Senator Lisa Murkowski, Monday’s announcement of the creation of this compensation fund – which would primarily concern the rioters who participated in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 – has “dropped a bombshell in the middle of a fairly well planned process†, aimed at having the legislative package on immigration adopted within the allotted time.
“Stupidité totaleâ€
According to The Wall Street Journal, opposition to the fund rallied “well over half of the Senate Republicans†, exceeding “largely the handful of Republican senators who have spoken publicly†.
Among the latter, John Curtis declared that he did not like “not this fund at all†and that in his eyes “no safeguard would allow the defects to be corrected†. Thom Tillis, a frequent target of Donald Trump’s criticism, described the fund as “prize for thugs†, while Mitch McConnell, former leader of the senators, did not hide his anger.
“So the top law enforcement official in the country is calling for a slush fund to pay those who attack police officers? It’s utter stupidity, it’s morally unacceptable – take your pick – a-t-il asséné.
This rare break between Senate Republicans and the White House constitutes “a major setback†for the presidential majority, “as lawmakers grapple with personal political agenda†de Donald Trump, juge Politico.
“Tempête passagère†or “rupture profonde�
Especially since the fund is not the only source of annoyance among senators, who have already been tearing their hair out, since the beginning of the week, over the fate to be reserved for the “billion dollars”. demanded by the Trump administration for “the security work of the [nouvelle] White House ballroom… underlines Axios.
According to the site, senators decided on Wednesday that they would not vote for this funding line – for a project, again, particularly dear to Donald Trump.
“We still don’t know whether this revolt against Trump constitutes a passing storm, which both camps will overcome after some posturing, or the prelude to a deeper rupture between the president and his troops… comments New York Magazine.
More “Internal party divisions are the last thing Republicans need as they struggle to galvanize their voting base to preserve their control of Congress.†adds the magazine.
