Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a major hurdle in his bid to become the nation’s attorney general after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance his nomination to the Senate. If confirmed, Blanche would formally succeed Pam Bondi, whom he replaced as acting attorney general in April after President Trump nominated her to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy.
The committee voted along party lines to approve Blanche’s nomination 12-10 on Aug. 4, following last-minute assurances that won over two Republican senators who had previously withheld their support over concerns tied to a controversial settlement involving Trump and his enterprises.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney has played a central role in advancing the administration’s law enforcement agenda while drawing scrutiny over his close ties to the president.
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Concerns over IRS settlement
Ahead of the committee vote, Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina sought clarification regarding provisions in the much-talked about settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The senators requested written confirmation that the Justice Department would not move forward with a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund intended to provide relief for individuals who claim they were politically targeted by government investigations or prosecutions.
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Following several days of negotiations, Blanche signed an order on Sunday, Aug. 2 stating there was “no doubt that no such fund exists.” The directive said that since the IRS settlement was announced, no board had been appointed, no money had been allocated, no claims process had been established, and no compensation had been paid.
Cornyn and Tillis also sought clarification over whether the settlement granted Trump or his family immunity from future IRS audits. In a written agreement, the Justice Department stated that any audit protections apply only to claims that existed at the time of the settlement and do not extend to future tax returns. The provision also applies only to the parties involved in the lawsuit: Trump, his two sons Don Jr. and Eric, as well as the Trump Organization.
Democrats remain unconvinced
Democrats argued that Blanche’s order does not permanently prevent a future administration from establishing such a compensation fund and called for legislation explicitly barring it.
The proposed “anti-weaponization” fund, announced as part of the May settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the disclosure of confidential tax information, was intended to provide a mechanism for individuals who believe they were harmed by politically motivated law enforcement or government actions to seek relief.
The controversy is one of several issues surrounding Blanche’s nomination. Democrats have also questioned whether he can remain independent from the White House, citing his previous role as Trump’s defense attorney, as well as his handling of investigations involving the president’s political opponents and the release of records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case.
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