Senate Judiciary Committee approves Todd Blanche nomination, full Senate vote pending
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The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination, but his confirmation by the full Senate remains uncertain.
The Senate Judiciary Committee gave Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche a 12-10 vote on Aug. 4, moving his nomination forward but leaving the outcome of a full-Senate vote unclear. The vote followed public support from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who said they would back Blanche after he abandoned a proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and clarified limits on a tax-immunity agreement involving President Donald Trump.
"We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon," the two senators said in a joint statement.
The committee’s approval sets up a possible full-Senate vote later in the week before the chamber adjourns for an August recess. A senior White House official said the administration is confident Blanche will be confirmed.
President Trump nominated Blanche, his former personal criminal-defense lawyer, in June after dismissing former Attorney General Pam Bondi. Blanche, who had been deputy attorney general, has overseen several high-profile actions since becoming acting AG in April, including an indictment of former FBI Director James Comey and the DOJ’s settlement that granted Trump and his two oldest sons immunity from past tax liabilities.
Two Republican committee members had previously withheld support. Cornyn said he wanted a written commitment to terminate the “anti-weaponization” fund, while Tillis said he would back Blanche only after the nominee met with women who accused the late Jeffrey Epstein of abuse. Blanche met with the group on July 16, and both senators later changed their stance after Blanche released documents indicating the fund had been rescinded and that the tax benefits would apply retroactively only to the Trump family.
Supporters of Blanche include Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who praised the department’s recent law-enforcement achievements, and President Trump, who urged a swift confirmation on social media.
The nomination remains contentious, with critics pointing to the DOJ’s involvement in the Trump tax settlement and the broader ethical questions it raises.