Cornyn non-committal on Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general after meeting

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Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) met with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday for what he described as a “positive interview,” but did not commit to backing his nomination to head the Department of Justice.

“I will not make a decision on confirmation until after that briefing and completion of his hearing before the committee,” Cornyn, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, wrote in a post on X.

Cornyn said Blanche committed to a “further briefing” on the tax audit issue involving President Trump and his family during the closed-door meeting, but did not address additional details about future plans for the anti-weaponization fund, which has emerged as a sticking point in his confirmation battle.

Blanche earlier this month said the Department of Justice would not move forward with the fund, but that has not been enought to satisfy critics who want to use his confirmation process as leverage to ensure the fund does not come back to life.

The fund was initially announced as a way for victimes of political “weaponization” to be paid by the government; it led to fears that people who attacked police on Jan. 6, 2021, could receive payouts.

Lawmakers have sought confirmation from Blanche that he will not attempt to reinstate the fund or corresponding payouts if confirmed as attorney general.

Last week, Cornyn told reporters he’s “interested in hearing how he [Blanche] would approach the job, because he was President Trump’s lawyer at one time, but if he’s AG, he won’t be the president’s lawyer.”

Blanche worked as Trump’s personal lawyer before moving to the government when the president was re-election.

His colleagues, including Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), have shared similar remarks.

“We have now the nomination of Todd Blanche that we can hold up if we feel like he’s not keeping up with his promise,” Curtis said earlier this month in regard to the anti-weaponization fund.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said that he doesn’t believe the anti-weaponization fund was Blanche’s idea.

“I think it came from the White House, probably from the President, but he has told us and the world that we’re not going to do it, and I believe him, and he’s put his credibility on the line, and that’s what I expect him to say in a hearing, if he doesn’t, or if he does, it will obviously impact the story,” Kennedy said.

Blanche is expected to appear for an initial confirmation hearing on July 15 after he officially submitted key paperwork for his nomination, that kicks off a mandatory 28-day review clock before the committee can formally convene the hearing.

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche

anti-weaponization

anti-weaponization fund

John Cornyn

John Curtis

John Kennedy

Sen. John Cornyn

Todd Blanche

Trump administration

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