Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) declared on Wednesday that he is not prepared to support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general in a key Judiciary Committee vote scheduled for Thursday, after a planned meeting with the nominee was scrapped. The Texas Republican's stance threatens to derail Blanche's path out of committee, where a single GOP defection could stall the nomination.
Cornyn, a senior member of the Judiciary panel, has been pressing the Department of Justice to clarify its position on a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund included in a settlement with President Trump. He told reporters that committee chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) gave him a 4 p.m. deadline to decide on Thursday morning's vote. “So we still got a little time, and hopefully they now recognize the seriousness of this, and will be responding,” Cornyn said.
The dispute centers on demands from Cornyn and fellow Judiciary Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina for written assurance that the DOJ will not establish the fund, which they argue could be used to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly prosecuted. Without such documentation, Cornyn said he cannot commit to advancing Blanche's nomination. “We've still got, what, about another five or six hours. That's plenty of time to resolve this, but there's also no real need to have a meeting if they will just produce the documentation that we've requested … and that he testified to under oath during his hearing,” he added.
The standoff underscores broader tensions over the DOJ's handling of politically sensitive cases and the Trump-era settlement. Cornyn's refusal to budge could force a delay or even a defeat for Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who has faced scrutiny over his role in the Trump legal team. The nomination has become a test of the Senate's commitment to the rule of law, as noted in recent analysis of the confirmation process.
Cornyn expressed frustration with the lack of progress, saying, “Beats me. Maybe they think I'm just going to give up or, you know, go along, but they're mistaken.” He indicated that Tillis shares his position, describing the North Carolina senator as “pretty much on the same page.”
The canceled meeting adds a new layer of uncertainty to Blanche's confirmation, which had already been contentious. Cornyn's demand for a resolution on the fund is a key sticking point, and his leverage is clear: a single GOP “no” vote in the evenly split committee could block Blanche from advancing to the full Senate.
As the clock ticks toward Thursday's vote, the ball is in the DOJ's court. Cornyn's ultimatum reflects a broader push among some Republicans for transparency and accountability in the department's operations, particularly around the controversial fund. Whether the agency will move to satisfy his demands remains unclear, but Cornyn's message is unequivocal: “Hopefully they now recognize the seriousness of this.”
The outcome could have ripple effects for the Trump administration's agenda, as Blanche is seen as a key figure in the president's legal strategy. For now, Cornyn's holdout keeps the nomination in limbo, with all eyes on the DOJ's next move.
