Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2026. His nomination hit a roadblock as lawmakers halted a planned vote, with key Republicans seeking further assurances regarding the settlement of a lawsuit involving President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The Senate Judiciary Committee had anticipated voting on Blanche’s nomination to advance it to the full chamber. However, resistance from two Republican committee members cast doubt on his confirmation. A committee spokesperson announced that the vote would be postponed while attempts to secure adequate support continued.
Negotiations between the Justice Department and Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis focused on the controversial settlement providing Trump and his family protection from tax audits. Central to the issue was Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which proposed dropping tax claims against him. The settlement originally included the development of a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for individuals who felt wronged by the Justice Department. Although this fund was abandoned in June due to bipartisan backlash, the audit immunity agreement remains a concern.
Cornyn and Tillis sought further written confirmation that the fund would not proceed and requested clarification on the tax immunity deal’s scope. Cornyn emphasized the need to amend the settlement to ensure it applies only to current audits and does not exempt future tax evaluations.
Senator John Cornyn, who recently lost a Republican primary in Texas, accused the Justice Department of “stonewalling” and stated, “the ball is in Blanche’s court.” Despite trying to assist in reaching a resolution, the process stalled, which confused Cornyn.
After exiting Capitol Hill, Blanche did not respond to reporters’ questions. In response to ongoing concerns, the Justice Department provided revised language to Cornyn and Tillis in an attempt to meet their demands. The department reiterated its commitment to working with senators to resolve outstanding issues.
President Trump remained unfazed by the challenges to Blanche’s confirmation, describing him as “outstanding.” Trump attributed Cornyn’s discontent to his lack of endorsement for the senator, noting that Trump’s support went to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Questions persisted among lawmakers on whether the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” could re-emerge without a written commitment from the Trump administration to terminate it, especially given Trump’s ongoing support for the idea. Blanche had resisted calls for a formal retraction, but he indicated willingness to assist in creating legislation to prevent the fund’s establishment.
The settlement arising from Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax returns has been heavily scrutinized in Congress and the courts. A judge involved in the case criticized Trump for self-dealing through the lawsuit, expressing concern that Blanche signed the settlement, given his prior representation of Trump. Blanche refuted the judge’s implications.
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