Senate panel delays vote on Blanche attorney general nomination as key
Republicans withhold support
[July 30, 2026]
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and JOEY CAPPELLETTI
WASHINGTON (AP) — Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general
stalled Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after
key Republicans demanded more assurances about the settlement of
President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on
whether to advance Blanche’s nomination to the full chamber. But
resistance from two Republican senators on the committee who could block
Blanche's nomination threw his confirmation into doubt.
A spokesperson for the committee said in a statement Wednesday night
that the vote would be postponed “as work continues to secure sufficient
support.” The delay came after hours of negotiations between the Justice
Department and Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis over the
controversial settlement that afforded Trump and members of his family
protection from tax audits.
At the center of the fight is the resolution of Trump’s $10 billion
lawsuit against the IRS. It included a deal to drop tax claims against
the president and a now-scrapped plan to create a $1.776 billion
“Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate people who believe they were
wronged by the Justice Department. The department said in June that it
was no longer moving forward with the “Anti-Weaponization Fund" amid
bipartisan outrage, but officials have said the audit immunity agreement
remains in place.
Cornyn and Tillis have demanded additional assurances in writing that
the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is dead and have pressed for clarification
on the scope of the tax immunity deal. Cornyn has said he wants the
administration to modify that piece of the settlement to make clear that
it covers only existing audits and does not protect the president from
examination of future tax filings.
Cornyn, who recently lost the Republican primary in Texas, accused the
Justice Department earlier Wednesday of “stonewalling" and said “the
ball is in Blanche’s court."
“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.
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Blanche didn’t answer shouted questions from reporters as he left
Capitol Hill, where he had been meeting with senators Wednesday. The
Justice Department sent Cornyn and Tillis new language Wednesday
evening in an effort to satisfy their demands, according to a person
familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to
talk about sensitive discussions surrounding Blanche’s confirmation.
After the vote was postponed, the department said in a statement
that it looks “forward to continuing to work productively with
Senators to address any concerns.”
Trump on Wednesday downplayed any concerns about Blanche's path to
confirmation, calling his attorney general pick and former personal
attorney “outstanding."
“Maybe John Cornyn’s upset with me because I didn’t endorse him,”
Trump told reporters in response to questions about the senator's
requests.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the state's Republican
nomination for the U.S. Senate, easily defeating Cornyn. Trump had
endorsed Paxton.
Some lawmakers have questioned whether the “Anti-Weaponization Fund”
could be resurrected absent a commitment in writing from the Trump
administration that it is not moving forward, especially since Trump
has expressed continued support for the idea. Blanche had previously
resisted requests for a formal written retraction, though he told
senators at his confirmation hearing earlier this month that the
administration would be willing to help craft legislation to bar the
creation of the fund.
The settlement resulting from Trump's lawsuit over his leaked tax
returns has drawn intense scrutiny both in Congress and in court.
The judge handling the case said in a scathing ruling earlier this
month that Trump had effectively engaged in self-dealing through the
lawsuit and that she was troubled Blanche had signed the settlement,
given his prior representation of Trump.
Blanche has said he disagrees “with the judge’s insinuations" about
him.
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Associated Press reporters Seung Min Kim and Mary Clare Jalonick in
Washington contributed to this report.
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