Trump and Blanche keep the president's corrupt IRS immunity deal — and throw January 6 rioters to the curb
Cornyn said he was satisfied with Blanche’s assurances and planned to vote to confirm him.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe Independent is an established news organization with an identifiable author, though this article’s strongly opinionated presentation makes its reporting distinct from its commentary. The page shows no signal that the article was reproduced from another publisher.
- Source type — An established international news outlet.
- Editorial standards — The publisher has an established newsroom, but the article is presented in a highly opinionated style.
- Author attribution — A named author is identified.
The article provides a detailed chronology, quotes the senators and Blanche, and refers to court actions and written notices. Its conclusions and much of its framing are strongly assertive, with limited presentation of competing interpretations.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes the senators’ joint statement and Blanche’s explanations, but its own argument dominates and it gives little space to a substantive defense of the IRS arrangement or the administration’s position.
- Counterarguments presented — The officials’ stated rationale is quoted, but not developed as a counterargument.
- Loaded language — Frequent evaluative language makes the article strongly one-sided in tone.
- Source diversity — The article quotes officials and refers to court filings, but offers few competing interpretations.
The article uses strongly condemnatory language about Trump and the senators’ agreement, characterizing it as corrupt and fraudulent. Its framing consistently emphasizes alleged self-protection and does not develop a defense of the arrangement.
- Language tone — Uses repeated condemnatory terms, including “corrupt bargain” and “fraudulent guise.”
- Framing — Frames the senators’ compromise primarily as preserving Trump’s interests.
- Source selection — Includes the senators’ and Blanche’s statements but offers little supporting argument from defenders of the arrangement.
Todd Blanche said the Justice Department would abandon its proposed Anti-Weaponization Fund while maintaining the IRS tax protections for Donald Trump and his family. Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn said they were satisfied and would vote to confirm Blanche; the article argues the deal leaves Trump’s protections intact while January 6 rioters cannot claim money from the fund.
Blanche said the Anti-Weaponization Fund was rescinded but stood by the terms of the IRS arrangement. An unsigned notice described the protections as applying retroactively and only to parties named in the lawsuit. Tillis and Cornyn said they were pleased with Blanche’s statements and planned to vote to confirm him as attorney general.
The article recounts Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and the Justice Department’s announcement of the fund, then argues that the senators’ agreement leaves Trump’s tax protections in place. It also says January 6 rioters cannot receive money from the abandoned fund, though their lawyers have filed other claims against the government.
Community verdict
5 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator who sought assurances about the fund and IRS agreement and said he would vote to confirm Blanche
Senator who sought assurances about the fund and IRS agreement and said he would vote to confirm Blanche
Tillis's version of this story ↗Attorney general who rescinded the proposed fund while maintaining the IRS protections
Blanche's version of this story ↗President whose IRS lawsuit and tax protections are central to the reported agreement
Trump's version of this story ↗Part of a bigger story
18 OUTLETSJohn Cornyn and Thom Tillis agreed to support advancing Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination after the Justice Department provided assurances or made changes concerning a proposed fund and an IRS settlement. Left-leaning outlets emphasize criticism of the senators’ support and question whether the agreement changed protections tied to Trump. Center outlets focus on the committee process and assurances, while some also note opposition and uncertainty about floor support. Right-leaning outlets present the agreement as addressing Cornyn and Tillis’s concerns and moving Blanche forward, with some also relaying Democratic objections.
- ARTICLES
- 20
- OUTLETS
- 18
- AVG CRED
- 70
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