The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after Republicans resolved an internal disagreement that had briefly jeopardized President Donald Trump’s nominee.
The committee approved Blanche’s nomination on a 12-10 party-line vote, moving the confirmation process to the full Senate.
Blanche’s nomination had been delayed after Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., withheld their support over concerns surrounding a proposed Trump administration “anti-weaponization” fund.
Announced in May, the program would have provided taxpayer-funded payments to certain January 6 defendants who were pardoned by President Trump after returning to office. The proposal sparked criticism and became the central issue holding up Blanche’s nomination.
The disagreement escalated over the weekend, with Trump and Tillis exchanging sharp public remarks on social media.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump vowed the fund would ultimately be “PASSED” while criticizing both Cornyn and Tillis for opposing the proposal.
Tillis responded on X by reiterating his opposition, referring to the initiative as a “payout pot for punks.”
The standoff ended after Blanche announced Sunday that he had reached an agreement to amend the settlement supporting the fund. Following those changes, Cornyn and Tillis said their concerns had been addressed, allowing Republicans to unite behind Blanche’s nomination.
With the dispute resolved, the committee proceeded with Tuesday’s vote, clearing the way for the nomination to move to the Senate floor.
Democrats used the confirmation process to question whether Blanche would maintain the Justice Department’s independence if confirmed as attorney general.
Several Democratic senators argued that Blanche’s close relationship with Trump raised concerns about whether he would place loyalty to the president ahead of the department’s traditional independence. They also questioned whether the changes involving the fund would remain in place.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, argued that Blanche “continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., also criticized directives Blanche issued on Sunday, dismissing them as “decorative.” Whitehouse argued the language contained “enough weasel room” to “drive a truck through,” suggesting the changes could later be reversed.
Republicans defended the agreement reached over the weekend and said it resolved the concerns that had delayed the nomination.
Before the committee voted, Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, acknowledged that Cornyn and Tillis were not alone in questioning the proposed fund and the settlement involving the IRS.
Grassley said those concerns had been “shared by many, including this senator,” but maintained that the revisions negotiated by Blanche had successfully addressed the issue.
According to Grassley, the agreement had “put this issue to bed once and for all,” clearing the path for the committee to move forward with the nomination.
Tuesday’s vote represents a key milestone for Blanche as he seeks confirmation to become the nation’s next attorney general.
The nomination now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority, giving the party the votes needed to confirm nominees if members remain united.
After days of uncertainty surrounding the fate of the nomination, the resolution of the dispute over the proposed anti-weaponization fund allowed Blanche’s confirmation process to resume, with the final decision now resting with the full Senate.
