The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance the nomination of Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice as Attorney General. The committee advanced his nomination with a 12-10 vote, sending it to the full Senate for confirmation.
The advancement followed assurances from Blanche that a nearly $1.8 billion Justice Department fund would not be reinstated. This fund, established through a settlement with President Trump and related to an IRS lawsuit, had raised concerns among some senators about its potential use for payouts to January 6th rioters or other individuals prosecuted under the Biden administration.
Senator John Cornyn of Texas stated that Blanche deserves the opportunity to provide a stabilizing force at the Department of Justice and serve as a legal advisor to the President. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina had also expressed concerns, dubbing the fund a "payout pot for punks." Democratic members, including Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, had also voiced strong opposition to the fund and related liability release orders.
Blanche formally rescinded the $1.776 billion fund on Sunday, stating it would "have no force or effect." The fund was created as part of a settlement from an IRS lawsuit filed by President Trump earlier in the year, which also addressed potential immunity from audits for the Trump family. Critics had described the fund as a "slush fund" for Trump allies.
During his confirmation hearing on July 15, Blanche had previously declared the fund "dead," but Senators Cornyn and Tillis had sought written confirmation and clarification regarding presidential and family immunity from future IRS audits. Tillis also urged Blanche to address what he described as politicized prosecutions, referencing the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.