Just hours before a scheduled Judiciary Committee vote, Todd Blanche's path to becoming attorney general is in serious jeopardy, with two Republican senators threatening to block his advancement over a lingering dispute about a controversial fund.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have made clear they will not support Blanche unless the Department of Justice formally and permanently scraps a proposed $1.776 billion fund intended to compensate victims of alleged government "weaponization." The fund, part of a settlement in former President Trump's lawsuit over leaked IRS records, has drawn bipartisan criticism for potentially benefiting January 6 defendants.
Cornyn, who is leaving Congress at year's end, expressed frustration Wednesday evening, accusing the DOJ of "stonewalling" his months-long requests for assurances. "They've simply refused to cooperate," Cornyn told reporters, adding that he sent the department a "red line" strikeout of the settlement terms but received no response. He warned that without a written commitment to kill the fund, his vote is lost.
Tillis echoed that sentiment, suggesting the markup could be a "failure" if held without a deal. He indicated he might skip the meeting to deny a quorum, saying, "I don't want the chairman to have a failed markup." Tillis described the likelihood of the vote proceeding as a "coin toss," noting time is running short.
Blanche made a late-afternoon push on Capitol Hill to broker an agreement, but Cornyn said the nominee had not met with him directly. "We actually sent them a red line strikeout of what we need, and they just need to make a decision," Cornyn said, adding a pointed ultimatum: "Tell them they have one hour and 50 minutes to get me what I asked for."
The fund, initially framed as a settlement in Trump's $10 billion lawsuit over leaked tax records, was designed to provide payouts to individuals who claimed they were wronged by federal agencies. But it ignited opposition from both parties, particularly over potential payments to those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Blanche has stated publicly that DOJ is "not moving forward with the fund. Period," but he has yet to provide written confirmation, which Cornyn and Tillis demand. A federal judge earlier this month described the settlement as collusive, ruling that the parties were never truly adversarial and that Trump sought to "manipulate the judicial process."
The standoff underscores broader tensions within the GOP over the administration's approach to DOJ accountability. As Cornyn noted, "Maybe they think I'm just going to give up or go along, but they're mistaken." Meanwhile, the Justice Department is also navigating a separate million-dollar settlement with anti-abortion activist Paul Vaughn, adding to scrutiny.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) declined to comment on whether the vote would proceed, though Cornyn said Grassley wanted to give DOJ more time. With both Cornyn withholding support for Blanche and Tillis signaling a potential boycott, the nomination's fate remains uncertain. A "no" from either could doom it in committee, leaving Blanche's future—and the administration's agenda—in limbo.
