Senate Committee Advances Todd Blanche’s Nomination for Attorney General/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination advanced to the full Senate after he secured support from two Republican holdouts on the Judiciary Committee. Blanche issued an order declaring that a proposed $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies does not exist and clarified the limits of a tax audit immunity agreement. Democrats warn that the Justice Department could easily revive the fund after Blanche is confirmed as attorney general.
Quick Look
- The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche’s nomination in a 12-10 party-line vote.
- Blanche’s nomination now heads to the full Senate.
- Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis had threatened to block his confirmation.
- Their concerns centered on a proposed $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies.
- Blanche issued an order stating that no such fund currently exists.
- The Justice Department also clarified an agreement concerning tax audits of Trump and his family.
- Democrats say Blanche’s order does not permanently prevent the fund from being revived.
- Blanche has faced questions about his independence from the White House.
- He previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and criminal defense lawyer.
- Critics accuse Blanche of using the Justice Department to pursue Trump’s political opponents.
Deep Look
Senate Committee Advances Blanche’s Nomination
WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared an important confirmation hurdle Tuesday after persuading Republican holdouts on the Senate Judiciary Committee to support advancing his nomination.
The committee voted 12-10 along party lines to send Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate.
President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney has aggressively implemented the administration’s priorities since replacing Pam Bondi as acting attorney general in April.
Deal Secures Support From Republican Holdouts
The committee vote followed an agreement Blanche reached late Sunday with Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The senators had threatened to block his nomination over the Justice Department’s settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service concerning the unauthorized disclosure of the president’s tax returns.
Cornyn and Tillis demanded written confirmation that the Justice Department would not move forward with a proposed $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies who claim they were prosecuted for political reasons.
The administration had announced the compensation fund as part of its settlement with Trump.
After several days of negotiations, Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming “beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.”
Since the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was announced, “No Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid,” the order said.
Justice Department Clarifies Tax Audit Agreement
Cornyn and Tillis also sought clarification about a separate provision that appeared to grant Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits.
Under the agreement, the Justice Department stated in writing that the protection applies only to claims that were open when the settlement was reached.
The provision does not prevent authorities from examining Trump’s future tax filings.
The department also clarified that the agreement covers only the parties that filed the lawsuit: Trump, two of his sons and the Trump Organization.
Democrats Warn Fund Could Be Revived
Democrats argue that Blanche’s order does not do enough to stop the administration from restoring the proposed compensation fund after his confirmation.
They have called for legislation that would permanently prohibit its creation.
The order also does not prevent the administration from compensating Trump allies through an existing process that allows people to seek damages if they believe the federal government wronged them.
Those potentially eligible could include individuals who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The fund “can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general,” said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee.
Questions Raised About Blanche’s Independence
Blanche has faced intense scrutiny over whether he can operate independently from the White House.
Lawmakers have also questioned the Justice Department’s investigations of Trump’s political opponents and its handling of records related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation.
However, it was the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that posed the greatest immediate threat to Blanche’s nomination.
Pressure from Cornyn and Tillis forced the committee to postpone its scheduled vote last week. Both senators are expected to leave Capitol Hill when their terms end in January.
Grassley Says Concerns Were Widely Shared
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, described the demands from Cornyn and Tillis as “common sense.”
Grassley said concerns about the proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and the IRS settlement extended beyond the two Republican holdouts and were shared by other lawmakers, including himself.
“I’m grateful that they as well as Mr. Blanche and the White House worked in good faith to solve them, formally rescinding the fund, clarifying the scope of the release of claims has put this issue to bed once and for all,” Grassley said.
Trump’s IRS Lawsuit Draws Criticism
Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS has faced criticism because the president challenged an agency overseen by the executive branch he controls.
A judge last month described the lawsuit as an improper act of self-dealing.
The judge also referred one of the attorneys who filed the case for possible disciplinary action.
Blanche Played Central Role in Trump’s Defense
Blanche is a former federal prosecutor who became a key member of Trump’s legal defense team as the president faced four criminal indictments.
He joined the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general before becoming acting attorney general following Bondi’s departure.
Bondi left the position after failing to meet Trump’s demands to secure prosecutions of people he viewed as political opponents.
Although Blanche maintained that he was not seeking the permanent position, he quickly expanded investigations into Trump’s adversaries and pursued other White House priorities.
Critics say his actions suggest that he has not moved beyond his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer.
Justice Department Pursues Trump Adversaries
Soon after Blanche became acting attorney general, the Justice Department moved to indict former FBI Director James Comey, a longtime Trump opponent.
Comey was accused of threatening the 47th president after posting a social media image showing seashells arranged as “86 47.”
Comey’s attorneys have accused the Justice Department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding important information.
His defense team has characterized the prosecution as politically motivated.
Blanche also appointed Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan administration, to oversee a Florida-based investigation.
That inquiry is examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired over the past decade to undermine Trump.
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