Trump floats withdrawing Blanche's AG nomination

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) - President Donald Trump on Thursday floated temporarily pulling Todd Blanche's nomination to the attorney general post while a U.S. Senate committee struggles to advance him. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to hold a vote on Blanche's nomination Thursday morning. However, Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., indicated they would not vote to advance him and the meeting was delayed. 

Tillis and Cornyn raised concerns about a nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund proposed by the Department of Justice out of a settlement between Trump and the IRS. Trump criticized Tillis and Cornyn in a social media post on Thursday when he floated Blanche's withdrawal. 

In his confirmation hearing, Blanche said the fund was "dead." Cornyn and Tillis have called for Blanche to work with the Senate on writing a law that would prevent the anti-weaponization fund from going into effect or being revived. 

Meetings to discuss legislation on the anti-weaponization fund have not progressed, according to Cornyn. He said an official at the White House has held up talks. 

"I think if this were just between me and Todd Blanche, we would have worked this out," Cornyn said. "But apparently he's getting some pushback from higher ups at the White House. I don't know who, but this doesn't need to be this hard.”

Both Cornyn and Tillis are not running for reelection. Tillis announced he would not run again and Cornyn was defeated by Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton in the March Republican primary. 

"Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it! He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time," Trump wrote. "I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office."

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April. An acting department official may only serve for 210 days, according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. However, the time limitations on an acting official stop when their nomination is pending. 

Blanche could remain in the acting post for another 210 days if Trump decides to withdraw his nomination. If Trump withdrew Blanche's nomination on July 30, 2026, he could remain in the acting position until Feb. 25, 2027. 

Cornyn, in a post on social media, pushed back on Trump. He said other senators are also concerned about the anti-weaponization fund. 

"POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis," Cornyn wrote on social media.