Trump tears into two Republicans blocking his attorney general’s nomination… and hatches unusual plan to bypass them
President Donald Trump said he has ‘no objection’ to delaying Senate confirmation for his attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, after two Republicans refused to vote for him.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, he has ‘no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,’ Trump said of the two Republican holdouts, Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who have held up Blanche’s confirmation.
Trump’s remarks come after a weeks-long standoff with Cornyn and Tillis, two outgoing Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, over the text of a sweeping tax immunity agreement for Trump and members of his family, as well as a $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization fund.’
Cornyn and Tillis said they would need written confirmation from DOJ that the IRS settlement and anti-weaponization fund are ‘dead,’ as Blanche testified in his confirmation hearing, in order to prevent Trump from reviving the settlement in the future.
The proposals DOJ offered for review failed to assuage Cornyn and Tillis, and Cornyn told reporters earlier that that they were ‘no closer than we were before’ on receiving the requested modifications – prompting Cornyn to send over a settlement proposal of his own.
That Trump appeared willing to gamble the fate of his attorney general nominee in order to keep alive a sweeping IRS settlement that would shield Trump and his family from tax audits offered a fresh glimpse into the president’s motivations in his second White House term.
Cornyn suggested Thursday the concerns about Blanche’s confirmation are shared by others in the chamber as well, noting on social media that Trump ‘is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,’ Cornyn said.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month
Trump, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Todd Blanche speak to reporters
Trump and his then-personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, speak to the press outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City
Cornyn speaks to reporters after votes in the US Capitol
The impasse threatens to snarl Blanche’s confirmation hopes for the near-term, leaving Trump without a Senate-confirmed attorney general.
It could also prompt renewed scrutiny of the IRS settlement, barring the requested modifications. Already, the settlement and the so-called anti-weaponization fund had created new fissures within the Republican Party and the Trump administration.
GOP leaders have shown more willingness to buck the President on his legislative priorities, which could complicate things for him in the final months before the midterm elections.
A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesperson conceded that Blanche’s nomination lacked votes to advance from committee, saying that the panel’s chairman, Senator Chuck Grassley, works to ‘set President Trump’s nominees up for success in committee, not failure.’
‘Senators Cornyn and Tillis want written assurances from the Department of Justice regarding the Trump-IRS settlement. Tomorrow’s markup is postponed as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche, who is highly qualified for the job,’ the spokesperson said.
It’s not the only issue that could be a thorn in Blanche’s side in the days or weeks ahead.
Blanche spent his confirmation hearing earlier this month fielding tough questions from Democrats and Republicans alike, who pressed him repeatedly on controversial actions the Justice Department has taken during Trump’s second presidential term.
Lawmakers grilled Blanche about the Justice Department’s botched release of the Epstein files, his personal loyalty to Trump, and concerns about carrying out politically motivated investigations or penalizing career officials who refused to carry out these marching orders.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department said Tuesday that the two sides were in contact.
DOJ ‘provided a written proposal to Senator Cornyn’s staff following ongoing discussion with both the Committee and the Senator’s office,’ adding that they ‘look forward to further discussion around any outstanding concerns.’
