Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination Stalls As GOP Holdouts Refuse To Back Down

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to permanently lead the Justice Department has been thrown into uncertainty after two Republican senators refused to advance his confirmation, insisting they will not back down until the administration provides written guarantees that a controversial “anti-weaponization” fund will never be revived.

Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have blocked Blanche’s nomination over a $1.776 billion fund that was included in the Trump administration’s settlement of the president’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Although Blanche testified during his confirmation hearing that the fund is “dead” and will not move forward, both senators say verbal assurances are no longer enough and have demanded formal written documentation before allowing the nomination to proceed.

The standoff forced the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone its scheduled vote on Blanche’s nomination. Because Democrats are expected to unanimously oppose his confirmation, even a single Republican defection could prevent the nomination from advancing out of committee. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has expressed hope that the dispute can still be resolved, but negotiations remained at an impasse Thursday.

President Donald Trump responded forcefully, saying he would rather withdraw Blanche’s nomination than negotiate with senators he accused of playing political games. The president suggested he could simply keep Blanche serving as acting attorney general and renominate him after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate, arguing that he would not reward what he described as obstruction from members who no longer have his political support.

Cornyn rejected claims that his opposition is personal or politically motivated, saying his only objective is ensuring the Justice Department follows through on Blanche’s testimony under oath. He argued that written language eliminating the fund should be a simple matter if the administration truly has no intention of reviving it. Tillis has echoed that position, saying he also wants legally binding assurances before supporting the nomination.

Despite the setback, Blanche continues serving as acting attorney general while negotiations continue behind the scenes. Supporters note that he retains broad backing from many Republican senators, law enforcement organizations, and President Trump, but his path to permanent confirmation now depends on whether the administration can satisfy the concerns of the two Republican holdouts without reopening the broader settlement dispute.