Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas have withheld their support, conditioning their votes on assurances that the Department of Justice will not revive a $1.8 billion fund intended for presidential allies. The senators are also demanding limits on IRS audit protections for the Trump family, which were floated as part of a $10 billion settlement deal. Tillis expressed frustration over the administration’s refusal to rule out the fund, warning that the lack of clarity is damaging Republican prospects for the 2026 midterm elections.
While critics, including advocacy groups like Public Citizen and MoveOn, have urged the Senate to reject the nomination permanently, labeling Blanche a "personal fixer" unfit for office, his path to power may remain unobstructed. Legal analyst Ed Whelan suggested that even without Senate confirmation, Blanche could effectively lead the Justice Department indefinitely as acting attorney general, as his existing status as deputy attorney general may bypass standard federal vacancy limits.
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