WASHINGTON — The Todd Blanche attorney general nomination encountered a setback on Wednesday as two Republican senators pressed the Justice Department for written assurances that it would dismantle an “anti-weaponization” fund and scale back tax audit protections granted to the president and his family members.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had planned to vote Thursday morning to advance Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate. But Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both of whom have previously clashed with former President Donald Trump and are not on the ballot in November, complicated the path forward.
At issue is the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund, created under a purported settlement between Trump and the executive branch over a lawsuit he filed regarding the disclosure of his tax records. That episode led to a five-year prison sentence for a former IRS contractor.
A federal judge in Virginia has indefinitely blocked the fund after a former Jan. 6 prosecutor sued. Separately, a federal judge in Florida concluded that Trump’s IRS lawsuit was filed in bad faith for an improper purpose, imposing sanctions on several people involved, including Blanche.
The settlement also contained provisions offering Trump, his family members, and his companies some protection from IRS audits.
Cornyn, who lost his primary to Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has voiced concerns about the settlement. On Wednesday, he told reporters that Blanche’s team had not provided written proposals to modify the release signed in the tax dispute involving Trump and his organization.
“I haven’t seen a single piece of writing that is responsive to what I’ve requested,” Cornyn said.
Tillis said he remains in active talks with the Justice Department. “They’re working on a draft right now,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “We’ve been in constant daily contact with DOJ, and to their credit, they’re engaging.”
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense lawyer, held the No. 2 post at the Justice Department until Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi in April over frustrations with her leadership.
After becoming acting attorney general, Blanche said in April that Americans should be “happy” about Trump’s involvement in department matters. Less than two weeks later, the administration brought a case against former FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram photo of seashells.
Following that indictment, Trump was reported to be pleased with Blanche’s performance and later nominated him to serve permanently. In a court filing this week, Comey’s legal team argued the seashells case emerged because Blanche sought to please Trump during what they described as an audition for the job.
During his confirmation hearing this month, Blanche said he is not a “yes man” for Trump.
Todd Blanche attorney general nomination tied to IRS settlement questions
According to the senators, resolving questions surrounding the Anti-Weaponization Fund and the settlement’s audit protections is central to moving the nomination ahead. Tillis said the Justice Department is engaging on potential changes, while Cornyn is seeking written commitments before allowing the process to proceed.
In a separate episode earlier this year, Trump’s behavior toward the press drew attention when he delivered remarks at the Correspondents’ Dinner, where he boasted about his record and jabbed his rivals.