The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination after two Republicans threatened the confirmation process.
The committee cleared his nomination after the holdouts, Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voted “yes” on the advancement. The senators were initially hesitant to support the nomination as they demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) formally end the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund in exchange for their support.
Cornyn and Tillis announced Monday they would vote in favor of Blanche after the DOJ released written documentation confirming the fund had been rescinded, which intended to provide compensation for those claiming the government was weaponized against them. They also demanded that language in an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement be rewritten to ensure that audit immunity for President Donald Trump and his family did not extend beyond the plaintiffs.
“We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund,” Cornyn and Tillis said in a joint statement. “Additionally, the Department has acknowledged in a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS and the Treasury, addressing concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.”
“We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” the senators continued.
Blanche said he engaged in “good faith discussions” with the senators and confirmed that he met their demands.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche wrote on X. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”
Blanche needed Cornyn and Tillis’ vote to get across the finish line, given that Democrats on the committee were likely to vote against him. His nomination is set to head to the Senate floor.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had not committed to supporting Blanche in a floor vote.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley scheduled the vote for Thursday, though Cornyn and Tillis’ hesitance caused him to postpone it until Tuesday. Cornyn claimed Wednesday that no deal had yet been made with the DOJ, causing him to withhold his support.
“[The Judiciary Committee] is ready to vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination Tuesday [at] 9AM,” Grassley said Monday on X. “Blanche is right pick for [attorney general] and our country is safer [with] him leading DOJ. [Thanks President] Trump [and] Blanche [and] Sens Cornyn & Tillis for working [through the weekend with] me to get the votes to advance this well qualified nominee.”
Tillis told the DCNF and other reporters Wednesday he was “prepared to support” Blanche if his demands on the weaponization fund and audits were met.
“The key there is exactly what I’ve said. That this agreement, the 1776 fund, needs to go away, and the language with respect to audits needs to be very tightly tailored,” Tillis said. “It doesn’t include anybody but the parties of the agreement, and it can only be retroactive. You do that, and I’m prepared to support.”
Cornyn questioned Blanche during his July 15 confirmation hearing about whether the fund could be revived. Blanche insisted the fund was “dead,” though he acknowledged there was no written agreement formally ending it.
Trump’s attorneys said Friday they would appeal a judge’s ruling casting doubt on the legitimacy of the fund, which could have threatened Blanche’s nomination. The president said he was willing to postpone Blanche’s nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis left office, though Cornyn warned other Republican senators shared their concerns.
“POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,” Cornyn said Thursday.
During the hearing, Tillis demanded that Blanche meet with alleged victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in exchange for his support. Blanche complied with the demand and met with several of the alleged victims at DOJ headquarters, which appeared to satisfy Tillis.
Cornyn and Tillis will not be in office at the end of their terms. Cornyn lost his primary to Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who Trump endorsed during their runoff in May. Tillis announced in June 2025 that he would not seek reelection after Trump threatened to back a primary challenger over the senator’s vote against the One Big, Beautiful Bill.
(DCNF)