Blanche Hearing Leaves Two GOP Senators Undecided on AG Pick
Cover image from chicago.suntimes.com, which was analyzed for this article
Trump's nominee Todd Blanche faced tense Senate questioning on loyalty, Jan. 6, and qualifications during confirmation hearings. Key GOP senators remain undecided while Democrats strongly oppose the pick. Multiple outlets reported on the proceedings and potential vote outlook.
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Thursday, July 16, 2026 — Politics
Confirmation now hinges on whether Cornyn and Tillis accept Blanche’s assurances that the anti-weaponization fund will not proceed. The hearing produced no new commitments from either senator and left the timeline for a final vote dependent on further negotiations.
What outlets missed
The May 2026 IRS settlement originated from litigation over an unauthorized disclosure of Trump tax returns by contractor Charles Littlejohn, a fact that explains the fund’s structure but received uneven background treatment. A federal judge’s ruling that the underlying lawsuit lacked genuine adversity between parties was reported by some outlets without the court’s full procedural findings. Blanche’s commitment to provide written answers on mail-order abortion pill litigation under Louisiana v. FDA was noted only in one account and not corroborated elsewhere.
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation hearing for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche left the outcome dependent on two Republican senators who have not committed to support him. Blanche, who previously served as President Trump’s personal lawyer, answered questions about the Justice Department’s independence, a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund created in a May 2026 IRS settlement, and the release of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina raised the fund as their main concern. Cornyn asked whether its terms remained enforceable. Blanche said the fund itself was not moving forward. Tillis received Blanche’s agreement to support legislation ending the fund permanently. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley stated after the hearing that the remaining issues could be resolved before a committee vote.
Democratic members focused on Blanche’s prior representation of Trump and the handling of Epstein files. Sen. Dick Durbin said anyone who represented Trump lacked the integrity required for the position. Sen. Chris Coons acknowledged Blanche’s prosecutorial experience but questioned his willingness to prevent the department from serving a retribution agenda. Blanche declined to discuss pending matters and stated he could not have negotiated the IRS settlement personally.
Outside witnesses are scheduled for a follow-up hearing on Thursday. Grassley indicated a committee vote would occur after two weeks, placing any floor vote in the Senate’s final week before the August recess. No senator on the committee has announced a final position.
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