Trump considers pulling Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination as senators hold out
The nomination is stalled, with two senators asking for assurances that a fund to compensate Trump allies will be ended permanently.
President Donald Trump is contemplating withdrawing Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, as his confirmation process in the Senate appears to be at a standstill. Blanche currently serves as the acting attorney general, leading the U.S. Justice Department.
Blanche, who has been in the acting role since April, requires the unanimous support of all Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation to proceed. However, two senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both of whose terms conclude in January, are withholding their support. Their objection stems from the status of a contentious fund intended to compensate Trump's allies.
Trump stated, "I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd's name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office."
The proposed "$1.8 billion (£1.3 billion) anti-weaponisation fund" was unveiled earlier this year. It aimed to resolve a lawsuit filed by Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concerning the leak of his tax returns. The fund would have enabled Trump's allies to seek compensation for what they alleged were politically motivated prosecutions by previous administrations. The deal, negotiated by Blanche, faced bipartisan opposition and was subsequently abandoned. Separately, a federal judge blocked the fund, citing concerns that it violated ethical guidelines.
Senators Cornyn and Tillis, whose terms both expire in January, are now demanding a written assurance from Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer, that the Justice Department will not revive the fund in the future. The Trump administration has not yet provided this commitment.
Blanche met with the two senators on Thursday, but the outcome of their discussion remains unclear. Tillis remarked, "The only logical conclusion I can draw from this setback is that, in fact, there is somebody who wants to enable [the fund] at the right time," adding that this was "unacceptable."
Trump's suggestion of renominating Todd Blanche after Tillis and Cornyn leave office faces a significant hurdle: Democrats could regain the Senate majority in November's midterms, potentially making such a move unfeasible.
Most federal vacancies can be filled in an acting capacity for up to 210 days, and the interim official can continue to serve while the Senate's confirmation process is ongoing. Even if Democrats secure the Senate majority, Blanche could theoretically remain as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.
While many polls indicate Democrats are likely to win the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the polling for the U.S. Senate is less favorable. Polls show Democrat Roy Cooper leading in North Carolina. Meanwhile, Cornyn lost the Republican primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump publicly endorsed. Paxton, who has faced past scandals, will compete against Democrat James Talarico in an election that polls suggest could be close.
This is not the first instance of Trump's nominees encountering opposition from within his own party. Trump initially announced plans in November 2024 to nominate former congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general, but that plan was quickly dropped. Additionally, two nominees to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have failed to secure Senate support.
Previously, a U.S. judge voided Donald Trump's $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS, which had granted him immunity from tax audits. The Trump administration also dropped the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund.