The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines on Tuesday to advance the nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general. The vote moves the nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation decision, marking a significant step for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice. Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since April 2026, previously faced a potential roadblock from within his own party that threatened to stall his path to the top law enforcement post.
The nomination had been held up by Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The two lawmakers expressed strong concerns over a $1.8 billion fund that had been proposed to compensate individuals who claimed they were victims of government "weaponization." The fund was originally announced as part of a settlement between the president and the government regarding the leak of his personal tax returns. The senators also questioned a provision in the settlement that appeared to grant the president and his family broad immunity from future tax audits.
To secure the support of the two holdout senators, Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday rescinding the directive that created the compensation fund. He also provided written clarification that the tax immunity provision is limited in scope, applying only to potential audits of previous years' tax returns for the president, his two oldest sons, and the Trump Organization. Following these concessions, Cornyn and Tillis announced they were satisfied with the outcome and voted to advance the nomination.
Despite the agreement, the committee's Democratic members remained firmly opposed to the nomination. During the hearing, they criticized Blanche’s past work as the president’s personal defense attorney and raised concerns about his independence from the White House. They also pointed to his handling of various Justice Department matters, including the government's response to the Epstein files, as evidence that he is unfit for the role. With the committee hurdle cleared, the nomination now heads to the full Senate, where it is expected to face a contentious confirmation process.