Senate Judiciary Committee Moves Forward with Controversial Trump Ally Todd Blanche's Attorney General Nomination
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Despite serious concerns from Democrats, the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination, after Republicans extracted written promises regarding a disputed IRS settlement that could benefit Trump and his inner circle.
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to push ahead with the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a figure closely tied to Trump-era interests, to lead the Justice Department. This move comes after Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis secured written assurances late Sunday that the department would not proceed with a $1.8 billion fund linked to President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS—a lawsuit widely criticized as a blatant attempt by Trump to enrich himself at public expense.
Blanche, in a Sunday evening order, claimed that no such fund exists, no members have been appointed, and no claims have been paid. The order also narrowly defined a tax-audit immunity provision to cover only Trump, his two sons, and the Trump Organization, raising alarms about blatant favoritism for the Trump family and their business empire.
Democratic lawmakers have rightfully pointed out that Blanche’s order does not guarantee the fund won’t be resurrected after his confirmation, and are calling for legislation to permanently block this potential windfall for Trump and his associates. They also highlight that the settlement leaves open the possibility for the administration to compensate individuals—including those involved in the violent January 6th Capitol attack—through existing claims processes, a deeply troubling loophole.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who joined the Justice Department as deputy attorney general last year, assumed the acting attorney general role after the previous nominee withdrew. His nomination has drawn scrutiny for possible White House interference and the Justice Department’s questionable handling of high-profile investigations, particularly those involving Trump and his allies.
The controversy over the IRS settlement, stemming from Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit, delayed the committee’s vote last week. A federal judge recently condemned the lawsuit as improper self-dealing and referred one of Trump’s attorneys for possible disciplinary action, underscoring the deep ethical concerns surrounding this entire episode.