Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation stalled less than 24 hours before a decisive Senate vote. The delay marks a new escalation in the dispute that has surrounded his nomination since he was selected to replace former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The impasse centers on a disagreement between the Department of Justice and two Republican senators who control the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators John Cornell and Thom Tillis have demanded written proposals that would modify the IRS settlement reached with former President Donald Trump and his family earlier this year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune had hoped a compromise could be reached to keep the confirmation on schedule, targeting a floor vote next week. He urged the senators to negotiate so the committee markup could proceed and Blanche could be ready for the floor.
The DOJ missed a 4 p.m. deadline on Wednesday to provide the requested documents, prompting Committee Chair Chuck Grassley to postpone the hearing. Without a guarantee that Cornell or Tillis would support the nomination, the committee delayed further action.
The contested settlement includes a nearly $2 billion anti‑weaponization fund and a provision granting audit immunity to Trump, both of which have drawn bipartisan criticism. Critics argue the fund could benefit individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, while the audit immunity clause prevents the IRS from examining Trump’s finances.
Senator Cornell has been the most resistant, using his leverage to extract concessions from the administration, including an explicit removal of the audit language. He scheduled a meeting with Blanche that was cancelled after the DOJ failed to provide the required written proposals.
Blanche continued meetings with other senators, concluding his Capitol visit with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, who declined to comment. The lack of responsive documentation forced further cancellations of scheduled discussions.
President Trump, when asked about the holdup, praised Blanche as “outstanding” and suggested the issue might stem from Cornell’s displeasure over a lack of endorsement. He emphasized that he had not heard of any substantive problem with the nomination.
Tillis clarified that he holds no personal conflict with the DOJ or Blanche and highlighted the procedural complexities of revising the settlement. He noted that the agreement was likely signed by the president’s lawyer rather than Trump himself, adding layers to the approval process.
Despite the hurdles, Tillis indicated that if the language can be finalized, he would support a markup and a vote as early as Tuesday. He stressed the importance of completing the written proposals to move the confirmation forward.
