Senate Delays Vote on Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a scheduled vote on whether to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination as U.S. attorney general. The delay came after two Republican senators said they still had concerns about the Department of Justice’s settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Blanche, who is currently serving as acting attorney general, oversaw the settlement. The agreement originally included a now-canceled $1.8 billion fund that could have compensated people who claimed they were harmed by government actions. It also included provisions preventing the IRS from conducting audits or taking other enforcement actions related to tax returns filed by Trump, his family, or his business entities before the settlement was reached in May.

Republican Senators Seek More Assurances

Just before the postponement was announced, the Department of Justice sent a new response to Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. However, the response did not address all of their concerns.

Blanche’s nomination must first receive approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee before it can move to a vote in the full Senate. The committee consists of 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats, and all Democratic members are expected to oppose the nomination.

If either Cornyn or Tillis votes against Blanche, the nomination would not receive enough support to advance to the full Senate. Tillis had previously indicated that he did not expect his concerns to be resolved before the committee’s scheduled vote.

Committee Postpones Vote

A spokesperson for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said the committee postponed the vote to give more time to secure enough support for Blanche’s nomination.

According to the spokesperson, Cornyn and Tillis are seeking written assurances from the Department of Justice regarding the Trump-IRS settlement. The committee said work is continuing to address those concerns and move the nomination forward.

Before the postponement was announced, Grassley met with Cornyn and Tillis in Cornyn’s office.

The Department of Justice also said it has been in regular communication with committee members and plans to continue working with senators to address any remaining concerns.

Cornyn Cancels Meeting With Blanche

Earlier that day, Cornyn canceled a planned meeting with Blanche for the second time. The meeting was intended to discuss the settlement, but Cornyn said the Justice Department had not provided the written clarification he requested.

Cornyn is seeking changes to the settlement language that limits IRS audits and enforcement actions related to tax returns filed before the agreement was finalized. He also said Tillis shares many of the same concerns.

Both senators have also questioned the now-canceled “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Although Blanche said in early June that the fund had been canceled following criticism from members of Congress, Cornyn, Tillis, and other lawmakers want written confirmation that it cannot be brought back in the future.

When asked whether he planned to vote against Blanche’s nomination, Cornyn said he was not prepared to support it.

Settlement Remains the Main Issue

President Trump said he believes Blanche’s nomination is progressing well. He also suggested that Cornyn’s opposition may be connected to Trump’s decision not to endorse him during the Texas Republican primary, which state Attorney General Ken Paxton won.

The settlement at the center of the dispute resolved Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the unlawful disclosure of his tax records by an IRS contractor.

During his confirmation hearing, Blanche said the settlement was not intended to protect individuals who were not parties to the lawsuit, provide future immunity from tax audits, or apply to agencies outside the IRS and the Treasury Department.

Cornyn has asked the Department of Justice to include those explanations in writing by revising the settlement. He said he has not yet received a written response that addresses his request, although a Justice Department official said a written proposal had already been provided to his office and discussions are continuing.

Cornyn is set to leave the Senate in January after losing the Republican primary runoff to Paxton. Tillis is also retiring at the end of his current term, leaving both senators free from the pressure of seeking reelection as they consider Blanche’s nomination.