Senate Judiciary Committee Postpones Vote on Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a setback as his nomination stalled before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2026. The planned committee vote was postponed due to key Republicans seeking further assurances regarding the settlement of former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

The vote, initially scheduled for Thursday, was delayed after resistance from two Republican senators on the committee threatened to block Blanche’s nomination. A committee spokesperson announced the postponement, citing ongoing efforts to secure enough support.

Protracted negotiations between the Justice Department and Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis centered around the settlement, which offered Trump and his family protection from tax audits. Central to the controversy is the resolution of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which included an agreement to drop tax claims against Trump and a plan for a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” aiming to compensate individuals wronged by the Justice Department.

Although the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” plan was halted in June amid bipartisan criticism, the audit immunity agreement remains. Cornyn and Tillis demand written guarantees that the fund will not be resurrected and clarification about the tax immunity deal’s scope. Cornyn insists the settlement should only protect Trump from existing audits, not future tax examinations.

“We’ve been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won’t let us. It’s befuddling to me,” Sen. John Cornyn remarked.

Despite the postponement, the Justice Department provided Cornyn and Tillis with revised language to aid discussions. They expressed optimism about resolving any concerns with senators.

Donald Trump addressed the situation, downplaying issues regarding Blanche’s confirmation. He commended his nomination choice, referring to Blanche as “outstanding.” Responding to Cornyn’s demands, Trump suggested tensions might stem from not endorsing Cornyn, highlighting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s victory over Cornyn in the Republican primary, where Paxton had Trump’s endorsement.

Concerns remain about the potential revival of the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” without a formal rejection from the Trump administration, given Trump’s ongoing support for the idea. Although Blanche opposed a formal retraction, he indicated willingness to collaborate with senators on legislation preventing fund creation.

Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax returns drew scrutiny in Congress and court. A judge criticized Trump’s actions as self-dealing and questioned Blanche’s role, given his past representation of Trump. Blanche disagreed with the judge’s implications regarding his conduct.