Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination Delayed Amid IRS Settlement Concerns

Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general faced a setback on Wednesday. The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a planned vote as opposition from key Republicans emerged. This opposition centered around assurances regarding the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The committee was initially set to decide if Blanche’s nomination would proceed to the full Senate. However, the resistance from two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, raised doubts about his confirmation.

A spokesperson for the committee announced a postponement of the vote. The decision came after intense negotiations between the Justice Department and the two Republican senators over a contentious settlement clause. This clause offered Trump and his family protection from tax audits.

The department said, “The audit immunity agreement remains in place,” but clarified they weren’t moving forward with the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

Cornyn and Tillis demanded written assurances that this fund, previously meant to compensate those wronged by the Justice Department, was truly abandoned. They also sought clarity on the tax immunity’s scope. Specifically, Cornyn wanted it clear that immunity covered only existing audits, not future tax filings.

Cornyn voiced frustration over the Justice Department’s handling of the matter. He accused them of “stonewalling,” and implied that progress was now in Blanche’s hands. Cornyn, having lost the Texas Republican primary, expressed his irritation over the situation.

Blanche offered no comments to reporters as he left Capitol Hill, having spent time meeting with senators. In response, the Justice Department provided revised language to address the senators’ concerns.

Following the vote delay, the department expressed its willingness to continue collaborating with senators to resolve any outstanding issues.

President Trump, meanwhile, expressed confidence in Blanche’s capabilities. He attributed Cornyn’s resistance to personal grievances over lack of endorsement, as Trump had supported Ken Paxton, who won the Texas primary over Cornyn.

Amidst these political tensions, some lawmakers fear that without a firm written confirmation, the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” could still resurface. Despite Blanche’s resistance to a formal retraction, he did express openness to work on legislation preventing the fund’s creation.

Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax returns has faced scrutiny from both Congress and the courts. A judge recently criticized Trump’s self-dealing through the lawsuit and raised concerns over Blanche’s involvement due to his previous role as Trump’s attorney. Blanche has countered the judge’s comments, standing by his actions.