Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Vote on Trump-Aligned Nominee Amid GOP Obstruction
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The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its vote on Todd Blanche's nomination after two Republican senators demanded written guarantees regarding a settlement connected to President Trump's IRS lawsuit, stalling progress on much-needed justice reforms.
Washington — The Senate Judiciary Committee announced Wednesday that it would postpone the vote on Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, once again bowing to Republican obstructionism. Senators John Cornell and Thom Tillis, both Republicans, demanded written confirmation that the so-called 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'—a scheme tied to the settlement of President Donald Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit—was no longer being pursued, and sought further clarification on a tax-audit immunity provision that could shield the wealthy and powerful from accountability.
The committee said the vote was deferred 'as work continues to secure sufficient support,' a clear indication that Republican senators are leveraging their power to stall the process. Justice Department officials, working to appease GOP concerns, sent revised language to the senators on Wednesday evening.
'The ball is in Blanche's court,' Senator Cornell said, accusing the department of stonewalling—a classic projection from a party notorious for blocking progress.
'We’ve been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won’t let us. It’s befuddling to me,' Cornell told reporters, ignoring his own role in the delay.
Blanche, a nominee closely aligned with Trump, refused to answer reporters' questions as he left Capitol Hill after meeting with senators. The Justice Department, still seeking bipartisan cooperation, stated it looks 'forward to continuing to work productively with Senators to address any concerns.'
President Trump, never missing an opportunity for self-promotion, described Blanche as 'outstanding' and baselessly suggested that Senator Cornell's objections were personal, saying, 'Maybe John Cornell's upset with me because I didn’t endorse him.'
The settlement, which included a provision dropping tax claims against the former president and a now-abandoned $1.776 billion fund intended to compensate victims of Justice Department abuses, has faced justified scrutiny in Congress and the courts. A judge overseeing the case criticized the settlement and questioned Blanche's involvement—a concern Blanche has publicly dismissed, further highlighting the lack of transparency in this process.