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Why It Matters
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination as U.S. Attorney General clears a significant hurdle in confirming the nation’s top law enforcement official. Blanche has served as Acting Attorney General since April, and the committee’s action moves the confirmation to the full Senate.
What Happened
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines Tuesday to advance Blanche’s nomination, following a deal brokered just two days earlier that satisfied two key Republican holdouts. Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had threatened to block the confirmation, creating a potential obstacle for the White House.
The arrangement centered on a $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump allies — a provision that drew sharp criticism. On Sunday evening, Blanche issued an order declaring the fund effectively nullified, stating in the order that “there is no Fund.” That move cleared the path for Cornyn and Tillis to support the nomination’s advancement. Audit immunity for President Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization remains in place under the deal’s terms. Previously, there had been GOP Senate resistance to the Blanche nomination that briefly put his confirmation in doubt.
Blanche stepped into the Acting Attorney General role in April, succeeding Pam Bondi.
Republican Concerns on the Record
Even among supporters, skepticism was voiced during the committee process. Sen. John Kennedy warned Blanche during the proceedings, telling him “you better not go before a federal judge and make allegations you can’t back up,” signaling that Republican senators expect the Justice Department to exercise legal restraint once Blanche is confirmed, as first reported by the Idaho Press.
Democrats Push Back
Democratic opposition was uniform, with every Democrat on the committee voting against advancement. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the panel, argued the deal offered little lasting protection. Durbin said the rescinded fund “can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed,” as first reported by the Idaho Press. Democrats signaled they view the Sunday order as a political maneuver rather than a structural safeguard.
By the Numbers
- 12-10: Partisan committee vote in favor of advancing the nomination
- $1.8 billion: Value of the compensation fund Blanche’s order rescinded
- April 2026: Month Blanche assumed the Acting Attorney General position
- 2: Republican senators who threatened to block the nomination before the deal
What’s Next
The nomination now heads to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. With the committee vote secured on party lines, Republican leadership will need to hold its caucus together for final confirmation. Durbin’s warning that the rescinded fund could be quickly reinstated may fuel continued Democratic pressure through the floor vote process.
The confirmation fight comes as the Justice Department faces scrutiny on multiple fronts, including ongoing questions about the department’s handling of politically sensitive cases. A separate committee vote this week confirmed Trump’s CDC director nominee with bipartisan support, offering a contrast to the more contentious Blanche proceedings. Details on that vote are available in coverage of the CDC director confirmation.
Senate floor scheduling had not been formally announced as of Tuesday, but leadership is expected to move quickly given the department has been operating under acting leadership since spring.
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