Senate panel delays Blanche AG vote over IRS settlement demands

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a planned vote Thursday on confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, after two Republican senators raised objections tied to a May settlement between the IRS and President Donald Trump. The move leaves Blanche's nomination in limbo despite Republican control of the panel.

The delay stems from concerns by Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina over the terms of the agreement that ended Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The suit alleged that a former IRS contractor leaked Trump's tax returns to the media. Under the settlement, certain audits of Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization were halted. It also created a proposed $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who claimed they were victims of political weaponization by federal law enforcement, including some convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

A federal judge blocked the fund after bipartisan criticism and legal challenges. Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general, has described the provision as dead. Cornyn and Tillis, however, are demanding written and binding assurances that it cannot be revived, noting the language remains part of the signed document. Cornyn has also pressed for clarification that any tax protections apply only to existing audits and not future filings.

The committee had been scheduled to advance Blanche's nomination Thursday morning. A last-minute response from the Justice Department failed to satisfy the senators. Committee rules require majority support to move the nomination to the full Senate, and a single Republican defection alongside expected Democratic opposition could block it. Tillis had signaled beforehand that he did not expect his concerns to be resolved in time.

The episode highlights friction within Republican ranks over an agreement reached under Blanche's oversight. Cornyn, who recently lost his primary, publicly accused the Justice Department of stonewalling and said the ball remained in Blanche's court. A committee spokesperson noted that Chairman Chuck Grassley aims to set up Trump nominees for success rather than failure, but added that work continues to secure enough votes.

Blanche's confirmation hearing earlier this month featured questions on several fronts, including the IRS deal. Democrats on the panel are expected to oppose him regardless. No new vote date has been set, leaving uncertainty around a key Trump administration position. The settlement's anti-weaponization element drew swift pushback from both parties when details emerged, underscoring broader questions about using federal resources to address claims of political targeting.