Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have announced they will support acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, all but assuring victory for President Donald Trump in his bid to install his former personal attorney in the role permanently.
The Monday morning announcement from the senators came just hours after Blanche issued a formal order that appeared to terminate the Trump administration’s nearly $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund. The order also clarifies the scope of an agreement the Justice Department brokered between Trump and the IRS not to audit the president, his family or his businesses. Those issues had been key sticking points for the senators.
In a statement released Monday morning, the lawmakers said they were “pleased” with the order, adding, “We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.”
The news virtually guarantees Blanche’s confirmation to lead the DOJ on a permanent basis. The two senators were the key Republican holdouts on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advancing the nominee’s confirmation. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was forced to postpone a committee vote for Blanche’s nomination that was scheduled for last Thursday. That day, Blanche and Cornyn had a closed-door meeting to discuss what it would take for the Texas Republican to support the acting attorney general’s confirmation.
Trump has continued to vigorously defend the anti-weaponization fund — both in the court of law and the court of public opinion. On Thursday, he had suggested he might withdraw Blanche’s nomination until Cornyn and Tillis are out of office, as both are leaving the Senate in January when their terms end. On Truth Social on Friday morning, Trump defended the payout fund, writing, “I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!”
The president has not yet publicly commented on Monday’s news about Tillis and Cornyn throwing their support behind Blanche.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Blanche’s nomination Tuesday at 9 a.m. E.T., Grassley said in a post on X Monday morning, adding that Blanche is the “right pick” for attorney general. Grassley also thanked Trump, Blanche, Cornyn., and Tillis for working with him throughout the weekend “to get the votes to advance this well-qualified nominee.”
The timing of a final vote on the Senate floor is less clear, as senators aim to leave town for their August recess later this week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Jack Fitzpatrick and Fallon Gallagher contributed reporting.
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