Republican Senator Blocks Todd Blanche Attorney General Nomination Over IRS Settlement Concerns
Senator John Cornyn has refused to support Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination until the Justice Department provides written assurances about the settlement of President Trump's IRS lawsuit, putting the Senate Judiciary Committee vote in doubt.
A vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general is in jeopardy after Republican Senator John Cornyn said he will not back the nominee until the Justice Department addresses his written concerns about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
Cornyn, a pivotal swing vote, told reporters he wants clarification on the audit-immunity agreement that shields Trump and his family from tax audits and on the status of a proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which the department said it had abandoned. Another Republican committee member, North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, has echoed Cornyn’s position, meaning a single holdout could derail the nomination.
The Justice Department has reportedly sent Cornyn’s office a written proposal on the audit-immunity issue, but Cornyn said on Wednesday night that no progress had been made and accused the department of “stonewalling.”
President Trump downplayed the dispute, describing Blanche as “outstanding” and suggesting the senator’s objections might be personal.
Blanche declined to comment to reporters as he left a Capitol Hill meeting with senators. A source familiar with the discussions said the department’s proposal seeks to address the audit-immunity clause and the defunct fund, though the exact terms remain confidential.
The settlement, which resolved Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit, has faced scrutiny in Congress and the courts. A judge recently criticized the agreement and noted concerns about Blanche’s role, which he has disputed.