WASHINGTON: The Blanche nomination advanced to the full US Senate on August 4 after the Judiciary Committee backed President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee in a 12–10 party-line vote.
All 12 committee Republicans supported Todd Blanche, while all 10 Democrats opposed him. The committee convened at 9 am EDT, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Blanche secured support from Republican senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina after formally rescinding the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation fund.”
His written order declared that the fund had no force or effect. It also said officials had appointed no members, transferred no money and paid no claims.
Blanche further clarified that tax-audit protections in a settlement involving Trump applied only retroactively. The protections cover Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organisation, according to CBS News.
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However, the order did not amend the underlying settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Democrats said the unchanged agreement could allow the fund or similar protections to return.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island described Blanche’s commitments as “decorative.” Cornyn and Tillis said the written order addressed their concerns and supported advancing the nomination.
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Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April. He previously represented Trump in criminal proceedings before joining the department.
The nomination now requires a simple majority in the full Senate. Senate leaders had not announced a date for the final vote.
