Judiciary Committee advances Blanche's nomination for attorney general
· UPIAug. 4 (UPI) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general.
Blanche, who is President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, has been acting attorney general since April. His nomination had been stalled for weeks in the Judiciary Committee as two Republican senators protested the controversial $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund.
The fund came as a result of a settlement between Trump's private attorneys and his Department of Justice, and would compensate people who feel they were unfairly targeted by the government, including Jan. 6 rioters.
The settlement would also shield the president and his businesses from IRS audits.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., had blocked Blanche's nomination in opposition to the fund.
But on Monday the senators said they were satisfied with a move by Blanche, a day earlier, to post a written order saying the fund was dead.
"The attorney general's May 18, 2026, order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund is rescinded and shall have no force or effect," said the statement, posted by Blanche on social media.
Cornyn on Tuesday said, "We need a stabilizing force at the Department of Justice, and Mr. Blanche deserves the opportunity to provide that, as opposed to continuing to serve in an acting capacity," CNN reported.
Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the written order "put this issue to bed once and for all," Politico reported.
But Blanche's move was not enough for some Democratic lawmakers.
"To state the obvious, Mr. Blanche's statement on the slush fund and the IRS immunity agreement are not signed by the parties to the settlement agreement and are therefore unenforceable," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Politico reported. "The parties could still sue to enforce the agreement and the cop-beaters fund can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general."
The Judiciary Committee voted 12-10, along party lines, to advance Blanche's nomination.
A vote by the full Senate could come as early as this week, before lawmakers go on recess on Aug. 6.
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