President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to temporarily withdraw his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, following a lack of support from two Republican senators.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated he wouldn’t oppose pulling Blanche’s nomination if outgoing Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina fail to back his confirmation during the Senate Judiciary Committee vote.
Trump further indicated that Blanche’s nomination could be reintroduced for consideration after the midterm elections.
This development comes amidst an ongoing deadlock between Trump and Senators Cornyn and Tillis. Central to their disagreement are issues relating to a tax immunity deal for Trump and his family, alongside a proposed $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization fund.’ These contentious points have prompted the senators to withhold their approval until there is official assurance that both the IRS deal and the fund are decisively abandoned. Blanche has acknowledged that formal revisions would be necessary to prevent any future revival of the settlement.
Despite extensive negotiations with the Department of Justice, no resolution has been reached. Cornyn highlighted the stalemate, stating that discussions have made no progress toward reaching the required changes.
That Trump appeared willing to gamble the fate of his attorney general nominee in order to keep alive a sweeping IRS settlement that would shield Trump and his family from tax audits offered a fresh glimpse into the president’s motivations in his second White House term.
Cornyn suggested Thursday the concerns about Blanche’s confirmation are shared by others in the chamber as well, noting on social media that Trump ‘is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,’ Cornyn said.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month
Trump, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Todd Blanche speak to reporters
Trump and his then-personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, speak to the press outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City
Cornyn speaks to reporters after votes in the US Capitol
The impasse threatens to snarl Blanche’s confirmation hopes for the near-term, leaving Trump without a Senate-confirmed attorney general.
It could also prompt renewed scrutiny of the IRS settlement, barring the requested modifications. Already, the settlement and the so-called anti-weaponization fund had created new fissures within the Republican Party and the Trump administration.
GOP leaders have shown more willingness to buck the President on his legislative priorities, which could complicate things for him in the final months before the midterm elections.
A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson conceded that Blanche’s nomination lacked votes to advance from committee, saying that the panel’s chairman, Senator Chuck Grassley, works to ‘set President Trump’s nominees up for success in committee, not failure.’
‘Senators Cornyn and Tillis want written assurances from the Department of Justice regarding the Trump-IRS settlement. Tomorrow’s markup is postponed as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche, who is highly qualified for the job,’ the spokesperson said.
It’s not the only issue that could be a thorn in Blanche’s side in the days or weeks ahead.
Blanche spent his confirmation hearing earlier this month fielding tough questions from Democrats and Republicans alike, who pressed him repeatedly on controversial actions the Justice Department has taken during Trump’s second presidential term.
Lawmakers grilled Blanche about the Justice Department’s botched release of the Epstein files, his personal loyalty to Trump, and concerns about carrying out politically motivated investigations or penalizing career officials who refused to carry out these marching orders.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department said Tuesday that the two sides were in contact.
DOJ ‘provided a written proposal to Senator Cornyn’s staff following ongoing discussion with both the Committee and the Senator’s office,’ adding that they ‘look forward to further discussion around any outstanding concerns.’