WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday to advance President Donald Trump’s nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to lead the U.S. Justice Department, sending the nomination to the full Senate after Republican holdouts dropped their opposition following last-minute assurances over a controversial settlement.
The committee approved Blanche’s nomination on a 12-10 party-line vote, according to the committee and lawmakers, with all Republicans supporting the nomination and all Democrats voting against it.
The vote came after Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had delayed committee action, said they were satisfied by written assurances from Blanche that the Justice Department would not establish a previously proposed fund linked to the settlement of President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over leaked tax records. Blanche stated that there would be no such fund, helping secure the votes needed for the nomination to move forward.
Democrats on the committee remained united in opposition, arguing that Blanche’s close relationship with Trump and questions surrounding the settlement continued to raise concerns about the independence of the Justice Department. Some lawmakers also said they remained unconvinced that the disputed provisions of the settlement had been fully resolved.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney and is currently serving as acting attorney general, has defended his record and pledged to uphold the rule of law if confirmed.
The nomination now advances to the full Senate, where the timing of a confirmation vote had not been finalized as of Aug. 5. Blanche’s ultimate confirmation remained uncertain, with at least one Republican senator publicly indicating opposition while Democrats continued to resist the nomination.
