Todd Blanche's AG Nomination Stalled Over Anti-Weaponization Fund FAST-MOVING
President Donald Trump continues to back Todd Blanche for U.S. Attorney General, but Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are refusing to support the nomination. The senators demand written assurances that a $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponization” fund – created in a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service that would compensate people the administration says were targeted by politically motivated prosecutions and includes tax‑immunity provisions for Trump and his family – will not be revived.
Trump has publicly declared the fund “dead” while simultaneously defending its purpose, and he has signaled he may withdraw Blanche’s nomination until the two holdout senators are out of office. Cornyn, who lost his reelection bid after Trump endorsed his primary opponent, and Tillis, who is retiring at the end of his term, have both tied their support to a formal written guarantee that the settlement’s controversial provisions are cancelled.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, but the Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed a full vote on his confirmation. The dispute has prompted the White House to pressure the Senate, enlist other cabinet members in urging a vote, and even file an appeal to preserve the audit‑immunity language of the settlement, further complicating the confirmation process.
Entities: Donald Trump · IRS · Internal Revenue Service · John Cornyn · Thom Tillis · Todd Blanche · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] President Trump has suggested he might withdraw Blanche’s nomination but also indicated he could wait until the holdout senators leave office. (A1, A2)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Senate Judiciary Committee has not advanced Blanche’s nomination due to lack of votes. (A1, A2, A3)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The settlement includes tax‑immunity provisions for Trump and his family. (A2, A3)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Todd Blanche is the acting U.S. Attorney General. (new)
- [● 18 SOURCES] The anti‑weaponization fund was created as part of a $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] His nomination to become Attorney General is pending Senate confirmation. (A1, A2, A3)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The committee demands written assurances that the anti‑weaponization fund will not be revived. (A1, A3)
- [● 18 SOURCES] Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking Todd Blanche’s confirmation until they receive written assurances about the anti‑weaponization fund. (multiple articles)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Cornyn and Tillis also want clarification on settlement provisions granting Trump and his family immunity from tax audits. (existing)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The fund is intended to compensate people the administration says were targeted by politically motivated prosecutions. (multiple articles)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Todd Blanche is currently acting Attorney General. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Senator Thom Tillis is retiring at the end of his term in January. (Senator statement)