BREAKING: Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination After GOP Deal
BREAKING: Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination After GOP Deal
The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general after Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn agreed to support his nomination following a deal over a controversial Justice Department fund.
Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination Clears Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON — Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has cleared a major hurdle in his bid to become the permanent head of the U.S. Department of Justice after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination.
The committee voted 12-10 along party lines on Tuesday, August 4, sending Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate for consideration. The vote followed an agreement between Blanche and Republican senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had previously withheld their support over concerns surrounding a controversial Justice Department settlement involving President Donald Trump.
The development removes an important obstacle that had threatened to delay Blanche’s confirmation process and places the nomination on track for a vote by the full Senate.
Blanche, a former personal attorney to Trump, has been serving as acting attorney general and is now seeking Senate confirmation to formally lead the Justice Department.
Committee Vote Comes After Republican Holdouts Reach Agreement
The committee’s decision came after days of negotiations involving Blanche, Cornyn and Tillis.
Cornyn and Tillis had raised concerns about provisions connected to a Justice Department settlement involving Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. One of the most controversial elements was a proposed compensation fund that had been described as an approximately $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
The fund generated criticism because of concerns about whether it could potentially compensate Trump and his allies over claims that they had been politically targeted by federal investigations or prosecutions.
The two Republican senators had demanded written assurances that the fund would not move forward.
After negotiations, Blanche provided assurances that the fund would not be established. The agreement was enough for Cornyn and Tillis to support advancing the nomination.
Their support was significant because opposition from Republican members of the Judiciary Committee had threatened to prevent the nomination from moving forward.
Why John Cornyn and Thom Tillis Withheld Support
Cornyn and Tillis are Republicans, but their initial reluctance to support Blanche demonstrated the significance of the dispute surrounding the Justice Department settlement.
The senators wanted the administration to provide more formal guarantees regarding the controversial fund and provisions associated with tax audits involving Trump.
According to reporting on the agreement, Blanche's commitments were intended to make clear that the compensation fund would not be pursued and that certain tax-related protections would not prevent future IRS audits involving Trump.
The disagreement became a notable test for the administration because Blanche needed the support of Republican senators to keep the confirmation process moving.
After the agreement was reached, Cornyn and Tillis voted with the rest of the committee's Republicans to advance the nomination.
What the Senate Judiciary Committee Vote Means
The committee vote does not mean Blanche has officially become attorney general.
Instead, it means the nomination has cleared the committee stage and can now be considered by the full Senate.
The next major step will be a vote by all senators on whether Blanche should be confirmed as attorney general.
The full Senate is expected to consider the nomination in the coming days, although the exact timing of the final vote depends on the Senate's schedule.
If confirmed, Blanche would formally take over the Justice Department as attorney general rather than continuing to serve in an acting capacity.
The White House formally sent Blanche's nomination to the Senate on June 8, 2026, identifying him as the nominee to serve as attorney general.
Who Is Todd Blanche?
Todd Blanche is an attorney who has become one of the most prominent legal figures associated with the Trump administration.
Before joining the Justice Department, Blanche represented Trump as a personal criminal defense attorney. His relationship with the president has become one of the central issues surrounding his nomination.
Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general. The Senate confirmed him to that position in March 2025 by a 52-46 vote.
His experience includes work as a federal prosecutor and private attorney. Supporters have pointed to his legal background and experience within the Justice Department as reasons he is qualified to lead the agency.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has also expressed support for Blanche, describing him as qualified and emphasizing his commitment to law enforcement and the Justice Department's responsibilities.
Blanche’s Confirmation Has Faced Democratic Opposition
While Republican support has been crucial to Blanche's nomination, Senate Democrats have raised serious concerns about his record and his relationship with Trump.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether Blanche would be sufficiently independent from the president if confirmed as attorney general.
Those concerns are particularly significant because the Justice Department is responsible for enforcing federal law and overseeing major investigations and prosecutions.
Critics have also focused on the proposed compensation fund and the broader questions it raised about the relationship between the Justice Department and presidential interests.
Some Democrats have argued that the agreement reached between Blanche and the Republican senators does not go far enough to prevent similar arrangements from being created in the future.
Republicans supporting Blanche, however, have emphasized the need for stable leadership at the Justice Department and argue that his experience makes him capable of managing the department.
Controversial Fund Becomes Central Issue in Confirmation Fight
The dispute over the proposed fund became one of the biggest developments in Blanche's confirmation process.
The settlement involving Trump and the IRS attracted attention because of provisions connected to compensation and tax-audit protections.
The proposed fund was especially controversial because critics argued that it could have created an unprecedented mechanism for paying individuals who claimed they had been targeted by federal law enforcement for political reasons.
The administration ultimately moved to clarify that the fund would not be established.
Blanche's written assurances helped convince Cornyn and Tillis that their concerns had been addressed sufficiently for them to support advancing the nomination.
Nevertheless, the controversy is likely to remain part of the political debate surrounding Blanche if the Senate proceeds toward a confirmation vote.
Democrats Question Whether the Agreement Is Permanent
Although the Republican holdouts accepted Blanche's assurances, Democrats remain skeptical.
Opponents have questioned whether an administrative commitment can permanently prevent a future Justice Department from establishing a similar fund.
That disagreement could become a major issue during the Senate floor debate.
Democrats have also raised broader concerns about the independence of the Justice Department under Blanche, particularly because of his previous role as Trump's personal lawyer.
The debate therefore extends beyond the specific fund.
At its core, the confirmation fight has become a debate over how independent the nation's top federal law-enforcement agency should be from the White House.
What Happens Next?
With the Senate Judiciary Committee vote complete, attention now turns to the full Senate.
The Senate will have to decide whether to confirm Blanche as the next attorney general.
The confirmation vote could occur within days, depending on the Senate's schedule and negotiations over the nomination.
Because the committee advanced the nomination on a party-line vote, Blanche's confirmation is likely to remain politically contentious.
The final Senate vote will be closely watched because it will determine whether Blanche moves from acting attorney general to the Senate-confirmed head of the Justice Department.
If confirmed, he would inherit responsibility for one of the largest and most politically consequential federal departments in the United States.
Why Blanche’s Confirmation Matters
The attorney general plays a central role in federal law enforcement, criminal prosecutions, civil litigation involving the federal government and the overall administration of the Justice Department.
The position also carries substantial responsibility for maintaining public confidence in the independence and impartiality of federal law enforcement.
For the Trump administration, confirming Blanche would provide a permanent leader for the Justice Department after a period of significant political and legal controversy.
For Republicans, the nomination represents an opportunity to install an attorney general they believe can advance the administration's law-and-order agenda.
For Democrats, the confirmation raises questions about whether the Justice Department can operate independently when its leader previously represented the president personally.
Those competing perspectives are likely to dominate the Senate debate ahead of the final vote.
A Major Step, But Not the Final Decision
Tuesday's Judiciary Committee vote marks a significant victory for Blanche and the Trump administration, but it is not the end of the confirmation process.
The 12-10 vote means Blanche's nomination has cleared the committee and can proceed to the Senate floor.
The support of Cornyn and Tillis was particularly important because their earlier objections had prevented the committee from moving forward with the nomination.
Their decision to back Blanche after receiving assurances over the controversial Justice Department fund removes one of the immediate obstacles to confirmation.
The full Senate must now decide whether Blanche has the votes needed to become attorney general permanently.
FAQ
Who is Todd Blanche?
Todd Blanche is an American attorney and former personal criminal defense lawyer for President Donald Trump. He previously served as deputy attorney general and has been serving as acting attorney general.
Did Todd Blanche’s nomination pass the Senate?
Not yet. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination in a 12-10 vote. The full Senate still needs to vote on his confirmation.
Why did John Cornyn initially oppose advancing Blanche’s nomination?
Cornyn raised concerns about provisions in a Justice Department settlement involving Trump and the IRS, particularly a proposed compensation fund. He sought written assurances that the fund would not be established.
Why did Thom Tillis support Blanche?
Tillis, like Cornyn, had sought assurances regarding the controversial fund and related provisions. After reaching an agreement with Blanche and the administration, he voted to advance the nomination.
What happens after the Judiciary Committee vote?
The nomination moves to the full Senate, where senators will vote on whether to confirm Blanche as attorney general.
When will the Senate vote on Todd Blanche?
A full Senate vote is expected in the coming days, although the precise timing depends on the Senate's legislative schedule.
Todd Blanche's nomination to become U.S. attorney general has cleared a major hurdle after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 to advance his nomination.
The breakthrough followed an agreement with Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had previously withheld their support because of concerns over a controversial Justice Department fund linked to a settlement involving President Trump and the IRS.
With those Republican objections resolved for purposes of the committee vote, Blanche's nomination now moves to the full Senate.
The next vote will determine whether Blanche officially becomes attorney general and takes permanent leadership of the Justice Department.
The confirmation fight is likely to remain closely watched because it touches on several major issues, including executive power, Justice Department independence, federal law enforcement and the administration of justice.
For now, however, Blanche has cleared the latest obstacle in his path.
The next major development will be the full Senate's confirmation vote.
Todd Blanche Clears Major Senate Hurdle as Attorney General Vote Moves Forward
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