White House officials are actively courting Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to secure their support for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche. With the confirmation process stalled in the Judiciary Committee, the two GOP lawmakers are leveraging their swing votes to demand modifications to a controversial settlement agreement involving the Trump family.
High-Stakes Negotiations in the Judiciary Committee
The confirmation of Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, currently hinges on the votes of two Republican senators who have frequently found themselves at odds with the administration. As reported, the White House has been forced to engage directly with Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to avoid a deadlock in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A single “no” vote from a Republican committee member could effectively tank the nomination.
A White House official confirmed the ongoing outreach, stating, the Administration continues to have active conversations with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
This effort marks a notable shift in power dynamics, given that the Trump administration has previously distanced itself from both lawmakers, with the President publicly labeling Tillis a loser
and a quitter
while dismissing Cornyn as hopeless.
The Settlement Agreement and the Anti-Weaponization Fund
At the center of the standoff are two specific components of a settlement agreement Blanche brokered with the IRS while serving as deputy attorney general. These include a provision that shields the Trump family from IRS audits and the creation of a $1.8 billion fund, often referred to as an anti-weaponization fund.
Critics and lawmakers have expressed concern that the fund could function as a slush fund for presidential allies. While the Justice Department has stated the fund will not move forward, Cornyn remains skeptical of its permanent closure. During a confirmation hearing last week, Cornyn pushed Blanche to acknowledge that the program could be revived through future litigation if the underlying agreement is not formally modified.
“Well, does he want to get confirmed or not?”
Senator John Cornyn, via Politico
Cornyn is currently weighing whether these changes should be handled internally by the Justice Department or through new legislation. He noted that pursuing a legislative fix would be much more problematic.
Legislative Paths and Staff Coordination
Tillis has taken a more proactive approach regarding the legislative route. He has discussed drafting a bill that could pass via unanimous consent to ensure the fund cannot be resurrected. Tillis noted that Blanche has offered to assist in writing the technical language for such a measure. I have to be convinced that there is no way that it could actually ever be resurrected again,
Tillis said, which is exactly why I talked about the legislation … that [Blanche] offered to help write the technical language for.
Tillis expressed optimism about the current level of cooperation from the Justice Department. I know my staff have been in touch, almost, probably daily,
Tillis said. So they are acting. I mean, they’re following up in good faith.
Victim Outreach and Future Prospects
Beyond the fiscal agreements, Blanche has been tasked with addressing other sensitive issues to secure his confirmation. He recently met with victims of Jeffrey Epstein to address concerns regarding the handling of sensitive files. However, the meeting drew sharp criticism from attendees, including Liz Stein, who described the experience as demoralizing
and argued that the meeting served only to check a box for Blanche’s promotion.
Despite these frictions, political observers suggest that Tillis is likely to eventually support the nominee. As the Judiciary Committee prepares for a vote next week, the administration’s ability to satisfy the remaining demands of these two senators will determine whether Blanche officially moves forward to lead the Department of Justice.
Sources: Politico, The Daily Beast.
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