Todd Blanche's Attorney General Nomination Delayed Over Trump IRS Settlement Concerns
Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on Todd Blanche's nomination after Republican senators demanded written assurances that the Trump-IRS settlement does not create a permanent tax-immunity fund.
Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general was put on hold on Wednesday night when Senate Judiciary Committee leaders cancelled a scheduled vote. Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis asked the Justice Department to provide written confirmation that the so-called “anti-weaponization fund” tied to President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service is no longer in effect and to clarify the scope of any tax-immunity agreement.
Cornyn said the administration should amend the settlement language to make clear that it applies only to existing audits and does not shield the president from future tax examinations. He accused the Justice Department of delaying the process, adding that “the ball is in Blanche’s court.”
A committee spokesperson said the markup was postponed to allow staff to secure sufficient support for Blanche, describing him as “highly qualified for the job.”
The delay reflects ongoing partisan scrutiny of the Trump-IRS settlement and its potential implications for future investigations into the president’s tax affairs.