President Donald Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche to lead the US Justice Department was met with cautious optimism by a key Republican senator who has repeatedly split with the administration on other issues.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said he’s “generally satisfied” with Blanche’s paperwork and plans to meet with him next week.
Trump last week nominated Blanche, who had been one of his personal lawyers, to serve as the permanent replacement for Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired in April, despite simmering GOP frustrations with the president and Blanche over a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund intended to compensate people who claim they were victimized by the government.
Todd Blanche
Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg
After strong opposition to the fund arose among Republicans as well as Democrats, Blanche told a congressional hearing early this month that the proposal was being scrapped, though he declined to put that in writing.
Earlier: Trump to Drop $1.8 Billion Fund in IRS Deal, Keeps Tax Probe Ban
During a hearing on Friday, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema rebuffed the government’s arguments that Blanche’s public statements were sufficient confirmation. She entered an order blocking officials from taking action on the fund while the litigation moves ahead.
Trump, in recent days, has made positive statements about payments for his allies, raising doubts about whether the plan truly has been abandoned.
Tillis, who retires in January, has already threatened to block any attorney general nominee who has spoken positively about the people who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and he has harshly criticized the fund proposal.
Earlier: Trump Picks Blanche as Attorney General, Senate Fight Looms
Senator John Cornyn of Texas, another Judiciary Committee Republican whose vote will be crucial, said he planned to meet with Blanche on Tuesday or Wednesday. Trump last month endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff against Cornyn for his Senate seat. Paxton won, effectively ending Cornyn’s political career.
With a narrow Republican majority, both Cornyn and Tillis could stall Blanche’s confirmation in the Judiciary Committee, as Tillis did earlier this year with Kevin Warsh’s nomination to chair the Federal Reserve.
Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, who met privately with Blanche on Monday, said he planned to hold a confirmation hearing in July.
“I look forward to moving ahead with Blanche’s nomination,” Grassley said in a statement.
--With assistance from Erik Wasson.
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