Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Democrats’ Plan To Permanently Ban Trump’s Corrupt $2 Billion Slush Fund And Undo IRS Audit Immunity Instead Of Relying On The Word Of[...]

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor to denounce Todd Blanche's refusal to kill the Trump administration's $2 billion slush fund, while Senate Democrats have an amendment ready to permanently ban the scheme. Below are Leader Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

To anyone who takes the constantly-lying Todd Blanche at his word - I have a bridge to sell you.

Yesterday, Todd Blanche claimed the Trump administration will halt its plans to establish a two-billion-dollar MAGA slush fund for Trump and his cronies, but when asked, Blanche said, "I'm not committing to [doing] anything in writing."

Are you kidding me? This, one of the most corrupt things that America has, and he won't even put it down in writing. The American people need that commitment to stop Trump's corruption not only in writing but codified in law. And he won't even write it down because he knows that Trump is lying. He probably knows that he is lying, that in a week or two Trump will come back, he'll come back and others will come up with a new corrupt scheme very similar to this slush fund, if not the same.

Blanche also said that Trump and his family will keep their brazenly corrupt tax immunity.

That means that Trump and his family get to keep at least a hundred million dollars they owe in unpaid taxes. At least a hundred million dollars - no audits, no consequences, no strings attached.

No matter what, from the start, I will personally push to permanently ban both the slush fund and the blank check Trump cut to himself and his family that would allow them to cheat on their taxes when this Republican reconciliation bill comes to the floor.

Again, I tell Republicans, you're going to have to vote on ending the corrupt Trump slush fund once and for all. You're going to have to vote on deciding whether Trump will be able to evade any tax audits and will be allowed to cheat on his taxes. And you're going to have to vote on it. And I ask you this, I ask Leader Thune, I ask every Republican Senator: if you believe the slush fund should be banned, if you believe Trump shouldn't get tax immunity, then why wouldn't you just vote yes and make sure we but it into law. Because we all know that the word of Trump and the word of Blanche are, to put it kindly, flexible, and to put it realistically, not to be trusted. Particularly on a matter as vital as this.

Does anyone seriously think that Blanche will keep his word to drop this grift?

Just weeks ago, Blanche lied under oath to Congress, claiming that he met with the Epstein survivors. The Epstein survivors themselves said that was a lie. Does anyone think they can trust Blanche when he is in ongoing legal battles with former clients who've accused him of forgery and malpractice? Todd Blanche's word is as worthless as Trumps. So, when you see these newspaper headlines, "Trump is backing off because Blanche gave his word," again, I've got a bridge to sell you. No one really believes it. Trump just wants to slide off the hook, hope this goes away in a week or two, and comes back and does all the things we caught him doing in the last few weeks.

Trump's word, of course, the American people know, is worthless. No one believes he tells the truth. Trump promised to lower Americans' costs on day one and broke it. Trump promised never to cut Medicaid and broke it. Trump promised not to start any new wars and broke it. Trump promised to release the Epstein files and broke it. And Trump has made thousands of other promises, big and small, and broke them.

It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word and resume their efforts to put your tax dollars in the pockets of MAGA billionaires, violent criminals, and, of course, the Trump family.

If Senate Republicans truly want to stop this corruption, stop relying on the word of a compulsive liar, Blanche, Todd Blanche, start doing your jobs, and pass legislation to ban Trump's MAGA handouts and his rampant tax cheating. And ban it by law and ban it permanently. That's what Democrats are going to put on the floor and if you really believe it should be banned, you'll vote with us. If you're trying to hide, duck, shimmy, whatever: vote no.

Trump may not keep his promises, but Democrats will keep theirs, I assure the American people of that. Republicans are going to have to vote on this slush fund on the Senate floor.

If Republicans don't vote to ban it, they'll have to answer to the outrage of the American people who are sick of lining Trump's pockets when they can't even afford most necessities.

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