The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance the nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general, clearing a significant procedural obstacle in his path to confirmation. Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since April, is President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney and has been central to pursuing the administration’s policy priorities.
The committee vote followed negotiations that resolved objections from Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had threatened to block the nomination. Their concerns centered on the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over leaked tax returns, particularly provisions establishing a compensation fund for Trump allies who claimed political persecution. The Justice Department provided written confirmation that it would not proceed with the $1.8 billion fund, and Blanche issued an order Sunday evening reaffirming that the fund does not exist. Cornyn and Tillis also sought clarification on tax audit immunity provisions in the settlement, which the Justice Department clarified would apply only to claims existing at the time of settlement and would not shield Trump from future tax examinations.
Democrats contend that Blanche’s order provides insufficient protection, arguing the fund could be easily revived and that the administration could still compensate Trump allies through alternative government processes. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee’s ranking Democrat, stated the fund “can easily be revived” after confirmation. Democrats have called for legislation to permanently prohibit such compensation arrangements.
The nomination’s path to Senate confirmation remains uncertain. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced she would oppose Blanche, citing concerns that his actions have undermined the Justice Department’s independence. Two other Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana—have not publicly stated their positions. If all Democrats oppose confirmation and Blanche cannot secure two Republican votes, the outcome depends on the status of Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was hospitalized following a fall.
Blanche has faced broader scrutiny regarding his ability to maintain independence from the White House and his role in advancing investigations into the president’s perceived political opponents. A federal judge recently criticized Trump’s IRS lawsuit as improper self-dealing and referred one of Trump’s attorneys for potential disciplinary action.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI