Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said Monday they will support Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general [1].
The shift in support removes a significant hurdle for Blanche, who had faced opposition from within his own party over the use of Justice Department resources.
Blanche, currently the acting attorney general, signed an order to kill a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund [2]. The fund was created to provide support for allies of former President Donald Trump [3]. Republican senators had previously described the initiative as a "weaponization" fund and threatened to block Blanche's bid for the permanent position unless the money was rescinded [3].
Two Republican senators had been holding out on the nomination until the financial order was signed [1]. With the fund now defunct, Cornyn and Tillis said they will back the nomination [2].
The move comes as the U.S. Senate continues to vet the leadership of the Justice Department. The $1.8 billion fund [2] had become a focal point of contention for lawmakers concerned about the neutrality of the department's spending. By eliminating the fund, Blanche has addressed the specific demands of the holdout senators to ensure the confirmation process can move forward [3].
“Senators Cornyn and Tillis said they will back Todd Blanche for AG.”
The decision to rescind the $1.8 billion fund suggests that even within the Republican party, there is a limit to the acceptance of Justice Department funds being used specifically for political allies. By securing the support of Cornyn and Tillis, Blanche has likely cleared the path for his official confirmation, signaling a tactical retreat to ensure he maintains control of the department.
