Todd Blanche faces Republican resistance ahead of Justice Department confirmation vote

Todd Blanche is facing a possible setback in his bid to formally lead the US Department of Justice, after Republican Senator John Cornyn said he was not prepared to vote yes ahead of a key committee vote. Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April, and the comments from Cornyn point to unease within the president's own party over his nomination. The Senate Judiciary Committee is due to vote on Thursday, making the next stage of the confirmation process immediate.

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Cornyn told reporters that he remained sceptical about Blanche's confirmation and said he had not seen written assurances he had requested. He said he was concerned about Blanche's stewardship of the department while serving in an acting capacity. Cornyn also questioned a settlement Blanche helped broker in May in response to a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service.

Under that deal, Trump and his family would be shielded from future IRS audits, while a proposed compensation mechanism for people alleging political persecution was later abandoned amid backlash. The settlement drew criticism from opponents who described the compensation idea as a slush fund that could benefit the president's allies. A federal judge ruled earlier this month that the arrangement was illegal, accusing Blanche of double-dealing by acting on behalf of both the federal government and Trump as a private citizen.

Blanche has since told lawmakers that the compensation fund is dead, but Cornyn said he still wanted written guarantees. The committee vote is the first step before a wider Senate debate on whether Blanche should be confirmed to the top federal law enforcement post. The dispute matters because the attorney general oversees the Justice Department, which plays a central role in federal law enforcement, legal policy and the handling of politically sensitive cases.

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Blanche's nomination has also become a test of how far Republican senators are willing to go in backing a close ally of Trump when questions are raised about independence and ethics. The issue is especially sensitive because Blanche previously served as Trump's criminal defence lawyer before becoming deputy attorney general and then acting attorney general. Blanche's path to confirmation has therefore become tied to broader concerns about the relationship between the White House and the Justice Department.

His critics have focused on whether his previous work for Trump affects perceptions of impartiality, while supporters have argued that he is qualified to lead the department. The fact that Cornyn, a senior Republican, is publicly withholding support adds weight to the challenge and could influence other lawmakers ahead of the full Senate process. It also highlights the importance of the committee stage, where unanimous Republican backing would be needed for Blanche to advance smoothly.

What remains unclear is whether Blanche can secure the written assurances Cornyn wants before the committee vote. It is also not yet clear whether other Republicans will join Cornyn in opposing him or whether the concerns can be resolved in time. The immediate focus is on the Thursday committee vote, which will determine whether Blanche's nomination moves forward or encounters a more serious obstacle.

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