Cornyn and Tillis Threaten to Block Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination Over I.R.S. Settlement
Two Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee—John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina—threatened on Wednesday to block Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. The senators, who lost their seats after defying President Trump, accused Mr. Blanche of refusing to put on paper his promise to kill aspects of a deal he cut to settle Mr. Trump’s lawsuit against the I.R.S. Mr. Cornyn scrapped a scheduled meeting with the nominee on Wednesday morning, stating he was not prepared to vote yes and giving the department until 4 p.m. to provide clear written guarantees regarding the fund and tax agreement before a potentially postponed committee vote.
Disputed Tax Exemptions and the 1776 Fund Controversy
In June, Mr. Blanche stated he would drop a proposed $1.8 billion fund designed to compensate purported victims of Biden-era Justice Department actions, but indicated a related provision shielding Mr. Trump and his family from tax investigations would remain intact. While Mr. Tillis expressed optimism that the dispute over the audit language was merely a drafting exercise, Mr. Cornyn noted he had received no written assurances that the audit shield would exclude future tax liabilities or a broader circle of beneficiaries. The exemption in question could potentially yield a $100 million windfall for Mr. Trump and his family.
Concerns Over Presidential Independence and White House Control
Mr. Cornyn questioned Mr. Blanche’s independence from White House control during a confirmation hearing this month, ultimately refusing to commit his support. While politely acknowledging Mr. Blanche’s public service, the Texas senator remarked that transitioning from being the president’s personal lawyer to a cabinet member creates a very difficult position. He further noted that he could understand why Mr. Trump desired the tax-immunity deal, pointing out that it provides audit protections unavailable to any other taxpayer.
Path Forward for the Acting Attorney General’s Confirmation
As the acting attorney general who can continue in his role indefinitely, Mr. Blanche cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote and currently appears to be two votes short. Justice Department officials have spent the past week communicating with Mr. Cornyn’s staff, leaving an administration official under the impression that many of the senator’s concerns regarding the exemption had been addressed. Meanwhile, Mr. Tillis suggested that Mr. Cornyn was already comfortable with language rendering the 1776 fund inoperative, leaving the remaining I.R.S. audit language as the central hurdle for confirmation.
