The confirmation process for President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee Todd Blanche hit a snag in the Senate due to objections from within his own party. The Judiciary Committee postponed the planned vote on Blanche at the last minute because of reservations from two key Republican senators.
A committee spokesperson said Wednesday evening that the vote had been postponed and that efforts were underway to secure sufficient support for the nominee. The vote, expected Thursday, needed the approval of all Republicans on the committee.
IRS settlement and concerns over closeness to Trump
The postponement was triggered by objections from Texas Senator John Cornyn and North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. Both senators have expressed concerns about Blanche's closeness to Trump and a controversial settlement with the IRS resulting from a lawsuit over the leak of the former president's tax returns.
The settlement included a provision shielding Trump and his family from future tax investigations, as well as a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" that would allow individuals claiming political persecution to seek compensation. The fund was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats as a scheme to funnel taxpayer money to Trump's allies.
Although Blanche argued in Senate testimony that the plan had been shelved and a federal judge found the settlement illegal, critics are demanding written assurances that it cannot be revived. Cornyn accused the Justice Department of stonewalling requests for more information, saying, "The ball is in Blanche's court."
Trump's withholding of support for Cornyn escalates tensions
In May, Trump's endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cornyn's rival in the Republican primary, had caused tension in their relationship. Although polls showed Cornyn was stronger in the general election, Paxton won the primary. Trump told reporters on Wednesday, "Maybe John Cornyn is mad at me because I didn't endorse him."
The former president also criticized Cornyn and Tillis in a Truth Social post on Thursday, saying he might "temporarily" withdraw Blanche's nomination. "Blanche has the potential to be one of the greatest attorneys general of all time. But John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, whom I did not endorse and whose political careers ended because of my actions, are refusing to vote for this great nominee," he said. Trump added that he would not hesitate to bring Blanche back after the two senators leave office.
Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, has advanced many of Trump's priorities in that role, including investigations into his political rivals. In response to senators' questions, he said he ran the department independently of the White House. Blanche also faced questions about the late delivery of Epstein files to Congress.
