Todd Blanche more eager to please Trump's than pursue justice - Chicago Sun-Times

Todd Blanche Nominated as Attorney General Following IRS Settlement and Comey Indictment

Former FBI Director James Comey commented on a July 2026 announcement by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding a settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. The agreement allocated $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to individuals described as targets of prior government actions. Comey’s remark referenced the settlement’s provisions and raised questions about Blanche’s role in the matter.

Blanche was nominated by Trump to succeed Pam Bondi as attorney general. The nomination follows Blanche’s involvement in the IRS case and a separate criminal proceeding against Comey. A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida, Kathleen Williams, issued a ruling on the underlying lawsuit on July 14, 2026.

Trump, joined by two of his sons and the Trump Organization, had filed suit alleging that an IRS contractor’s disclosure of tax returns caused at least $10 billion in damages. The complaint invoked a statute addressing unauthorized disclosures by federal officers or employees. Williams determined that the suit lacked a genuine controversy between adverse parties, citing Trump’s control over both the plaintiffs and the defendant agencies. The ruling also noted that the complaint was filed more than two years after the plaintiffs learned of the disclosure, exceeding the applicable statute of limitations. The Justice Department did not contest the claims in the case.

A February 2025 executive order directed government attorneys to avoid legal positions inconsistent with the president’s stated views. Williams cited this directive, along with the absence of adversarial proceedings, in concluding that the litigation was not viable from the outset. Blanche approved the resulting settlement, which initially included an “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund was discontinued two weeks after the announcement following bipartisan criticism. A separate provision of the agreement provided that Trump and his relatives would not face liability for certain tax violations or other federal offenses, an arrangement estimated to affect more than $100 million in potential assessments, interest, and penalties.

In a separate matter, Blanche authorized an investigation and indictment of Comey based on a social media post showing seashells arranged to spell “86 47.” Prosecutors described the image as a threat. The expression has been used publicly by various individuals to signal opposition to the president. The indictment charged two federal felonies and carried a potential sentence of up to ten years. The case proceeded after an eleven-month investigation.

Blanche’s actions in both the IRS settlement and the Comey prosecution occurred while he served as acting attorney general. The Senate confirmation process for the permanent position is expected to examine these events, including the judge’s findings on the IRS litigation and the legal basis for the criminal charges against Comey. Blanche has not issued a public statement on the nomination beyond acknowledging the president’s decision.

The developments follow a pattern of litigation and enforcement actions involving the current administration and its predecessors. Court records and public statements from the parties provide the primary documentation for the timeline and terms described above.