Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced their support to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General on Monday [1].
The move is critical because it clears the path for the nomination to move from the Senate Judiciary Committee to a full Senate vote. Blanche now requires 50 votes on the Senate floor to be confirmed as the nation's top law enforcement officer [3].
Cornyn and Tillis based their support on an agreement regarding the Department of Justice. The senators said the department's "weaponization fund" is dead, and they expect the agency to honor that agreement in future litigation [1].
During a statement, Cornyn addressed the consistency of the assertions made on behalf of the United States. "They've been consistent about their assertion on behalf of the United States of America that the weaponization fund is dead," Cornyn said [1].
Cornyn added that he would vote to advance Blanche out of the committee on Tuesday morning based on the agreement. "Given this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the Department to live up to this in future litigation, and I will vote to advance him out of the committee today," Cornyn said [1].
The decision follows a period of deliberation within the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C. While some reports suggested the senators were stalling the process, both Cornyn and Tillis formally announced their support for the nominee [1, 2].
The committee vote on Tuesday morning serves as the final hurdle before the nomination reaches the full Senate body for a confirmation vote [2].
“the weaponization fund is dead”
The support of Senators Cornyn and Tillis signals a negotiated settlement between GOP lawmakers and the nominee over the use of specific DOJ funds. By tying their support to the dismantling of the 'weaponization fund,' these senators are attempting to establish a precedent for how the Department of Justice handles litigation and resource allocation under Blanche's leadership.
