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Blanche attorney general nomination stalls as Trump threatens to refile later

Blanche attorney general nomination stalls as Trump threatens to refile later

Trump signaled he will not negotiate with John Cornyn and Thom Tillis as the senators demand a formal end to a disputed IRS settlement fund before backing Todd Blanche.

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Fact Check
Multiple independent outlets (CNBC, Yahoo/CNN-sourced, Politico, AOL) all confirm the core claim. CNBC directly states the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed the vote after Cornyn (and Tillis) demanded written DOJ commitments that the $1.8B fund cannot be revived and that language shielding Trump from IRS audits be removed. Politico confirms Cornyn's demand for a written modification limiting the tax audit immunity's scope and killing the fund. These match all elements of the claim: postponed vote, Cornyn's written-confirmation demand, the disputed fund being dead, and constraining the tax settlement's scope.
Summary

Todd Blanche’s nomination to be President Trump’s attorney general remains stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee as Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis seek written changes or assurances tied to the Justice Department’s settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department. The dispute centers on language critics say could broadly shield Trump, his family, affiliates, and some linked companies from future tax enforcement or related claims, as well as a proposed $1.776 billion or $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that Blanche has said is “dead” but senators want formally canceled in writing. Trump has said he had “no objection” to temporarily withdrawing Blanche’s nomination and re-nominating him later if Cornyn and Tillis “do not do the right thing,” and he now signals he does not plan to negotiate with the holdout Republicans. Cornyn and Tillis have threatened to oppose Blanche in committee unless the administration permanently and formally kills the fund, which lawmakers fear could be revived to benefit Trump allies and people who assaulted police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Terms & Concepts
  • Senate Judiciary Committee: The Senate panel that reviews Justice Department nominations before they can advance to the full chamber.
  • anti-weaponization fund: A proposed $1.776 billion or $1.8 billion settlement fund that critics fear could be used to compensate people claiming political persecution.
  • IRS settlement: The Justice Department agreement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department, disputed over how broadly its liability and tax-related protections apply.