Trump’s attorney general pick faces possible Republican roadblock
Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defence lawyer, has faced scrutiny over his alleged loyalty to the US president. Interim United States Attorney General Todd Blanche is
Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defence lawyer, has faced scrutiny over his alleged loyalty to the US president. Interim United States Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing a possible roadblock from within the Republican Party as he faces a confirmation hearing to formally lead the Department of Justice. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Republican Senator John Cornyn said he was still sceptical about confirming Blanche to the top federal law enforcement position in the country. “I’m not prepared to vote yes,” said Cornyn. The senator’s comments come a day before a key committee vote in the US Senate to move Blanche’s nomination forward. Cornyn cited concerns about Blanche’s current stewardship of the Department of Justice, which he has led in an acting capacity since April. Previously, Blanche served as deputy attorney general, and before joining President Donald Trump’s second term, he worked as the Republican leader’s criminal defence lawyer. But Cornyn has questioned a rare settlement Blanche brokered in May, in response to a lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Under the deal, Trump and his family would be shielded from future IRS audits. The scheme also created a so-called “anti-weaponisation fund”, under which individuals deemed to have faced alleged political persecution could seek financial compensation. Blanche has backed away from the “anti-weaponisation fund” amid bipartisan backlash. Critics had described it as a slush fund that would benefit the president’s allies. Earlier this month, a federal judge also ruled the settlement illegal, accusing Blanche of double-dealing by working on behalf of both the federal government and Trump as a private citizen. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche again assured lawmakers that the fund was dead, but Cornyn said he was awaiting written guarantees on the matter. “I haven’t seen a single piece of writing that is responsive to what I’ve requested,” Cornyn told reporters. Committee vote looms Cornyn spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a Thursday vote on Blanche’s nomination, the first step in a wider Senate debate on his confirmation. All Republicans on the committee would need to vote in favour of Blanche for him to progress to the broader confirmation hearing.
While Republican lawmakers have generally been wary of opposing Trump, Cornyn has become an increasingly public critic of the president in recent months. Trump endorsed Cornyn’s primary opponent, former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in May. Paxton went on to win the Republican Party’s nomination in May, allowing him to progress to the midterm election in November. That race will see Paxton take on Democratic upstart James Talarico in what is expected to be one of the closest Senate races of the season. Cornyn will leave the Senate, where he has served for more than two decades, at the end of his term in January. In an Oval Office news conference on Wednesday, President Trump was asked about Cornyn’s reticence about approving Blanche for the attorney general role. “ Well, all I can say is Todd Blanche is outstanding,” Trump said, before questioning Cornyn’s motives. “Maybe John Cornyn’s upset with me because I didn’t endorse him. I don’t know what it is, but I haven’t heard that there’s a problem.” Critics have accused Blanche of placing his loyalty to Trump above all else, including by using the Department of Justice to prosecute the president’s political adversaries.
The BriefWire