The Senate Judiciary Committee canceled its scheduled Thursday vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general, marking a significant delay in his confirmation process. The postponement came after resistance from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who withheld their support for the nomination.
The core disagreement centers on a settlement agreement between the Trump administration and the Justice Department regarding a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. According to reports, Cornyn and Tillis demanded written modifications confirming that an $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” associated with the settlement would be eliminated. The Department of Justice did not provide the formal written assurances the senators requested, prompting them to block the advancement of Blanche’s nomination.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley announced the cancellation, stating that he works to set the president’s nominees up for success rather than failure. The two Republican senators’ opposition created a critical hurdle for Blanche, an acting attorney general and Trump-endorsed nominee, leaving his confirmation timeline uncertain. No new vote date has been announced.
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