Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted skeptical senators during his confirmation hearing, primarily addressing the defunct $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and a controversial tax immunity deal for former President Donald Trump. Blanche repeatedly insisted to lawmakers, including in private meetings and a House committee hearing in June, that the fund was "not moving forward." However, key Republican senators like John Cornyn and Thom Tillis expressed apprehension that the Trump administration has not formally committed in writing to permanently scrapping the fund, raising fears it could be revived.
The tax immunity provision, which shields Trump, his sons, and his companies from future tax investigations and could be worth over $100 million to the former president, has also become a significant sticking point. A federal judge recently criticized the IRS settlement, calling it an "improper exercise in self-dealing." Senators Cornyn and Tillis are particularly concerned about Blanche's independence from White House influence, with Tillis stating he would oppose the nomination if he detected "even a whiff of a lack of independence."
Blanche's nomination has faced scrutiny since he became acting Attorney General after Pam Bondi was fired in April. The need for a concrete commitment—either in writing or through legislative action—to permanently eliminate both the fund and the tax immunity deal, weighs heavily on Blanche's confirmation prospects. A single Republican "no" vote could deadlock the committee and effectively sink his nomination, giving these senators substantial leverage.
