The confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche hit a significant roadblock Wednesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee scrapped a scheduled vote amid Republican resistance over a controversial tax settlement involving President Donald Trump.
The committee had planned to vote Thursday on advancing Blanche's nomination to the full Senate. However, two Republican committee members — Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis — withheld their support, demanding additional guarantees regarding the resolution of Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
A committee spokesperson announced Wednesday night that the vote would be delayed "as work continues to secure sufficient support," according to NPR. The postponement followed hours of negotiations between the Justice Department and the two senators over a settlement that grants Trump and his family members immunity from tax audits.
At the heart of the dispute lies the resolution of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The settlement included provisions to dismiss tax claims against the president and initially featured a plan to establish a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" designed to compensate individuals who believed they were wronged by the Justice Department. The department announced in June that it would not proceed with the fund following bipartisan criticism, though the audit immunity agreement remains active.
Cornyn and Tillis have pressed for written confirmation that the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has been permanently abandoned. Additionally, Cornyn has sought clarification on the tax immunity deal, requesting that the administration modify the settlement to specify that it applies only to existing audits and does not shield the president from scrutiny of future tax filings.
Cornyn, who recently lost the Republican primary in Texas, accused the Justice Department of "stonewalling" earlier Wednesday. "We're been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won't let us. It's befuddling to me," Cornyn told reporters, according to NPR. He added that "the ball is in Blanche's court."
Blanche declined to respond to reporters' questions as he departed Capitol Hill Wednesday, where he had been conducting meetings with senators. The Justice Department submitted new language to Cornyn and Tillis Wednesday evening in an attempt to address their concerns, according to a person familiar with the discussions who spoke anonymously about the sensitive confirmation process.
Following the vote postponement, the department issued a statement indicating it looks "forward to continuing to work productively with Senators to address any concerns."
President Trump dismissed concerns about Blanche's confirmation prospects Wednesday, describing his attorney general nominee and former personal attorney as "outstanding." When asked about Cornyn's requests, Trump suggested political motivations. "Maybe John Cornyn's upset with me because I didn't endorse him," Trump told reporters, according to NPR.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured the state's Republican nomination for the United States Senate, defeating Cornyn decisively. Trump had endorsed Paxton in that race.
Several lawmakers have expressed concern that the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" could be revived without a formal written commitment from the Trump administration, particularly given the president's continued public support for the concept. During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Blanche resisted providing a formal written retraction but indicated the administration would assist in drafting legislation to prohibit the fund's creation.
The settlement stemming from Trump's lawsuit over his leaked tax returns has attracted substantial scrutiny from both Congress and the courts. Earlier this month, the judge overseeing the case issued a sharp ruling stating that Trump had effectively engaged in self-dealing through the lawsuit. The judge also expressed concern that Blanche had signed the settlement given his previous representation of Trump.
Blanche has stated he disagrees "with the judge's insinuations" about him.
