{"id":3394,"date":"2026-08-04T16:35:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T16:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3394"},"modified":"2026-08-04T16:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T16:35:21","slug":"todd-blanches-nomination-for-attorney-general-clears-critical-hurdle-after-deal-with-gop-holdouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=3394","title":{"rendered":"Todd Blanche\u2019s nomination for attorney general clears critical hurdle after deal with GOP holdouts"},"content":{"rendered":"
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…<\/strong><\/div>

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MARY CLARE JALONICK<\/strong><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday in his bid to be confirmed to the post after\u00a0swaying Republican holdouts\u00a0on a Senate committee to advance\u00a0his nomination\u00a0for a floor vote.<\/p>

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The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines in support of the nomination of President Donald Trump\u2019s former personal attorney, who has aggressively pushed the Republican administration\u2019s priorities since\u00a0taking over from Pam Bondi\u00a0in April.<\/p>\n

The vote followed a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and two Republican senators who had been threatening to block his confirmation over the settlement of\u00a0Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service\u00a0regarding the president\u2019s leaked tax returns.<\/p>\n

Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had said they were withholding their support unless the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it was not moving forward with\u00a0a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies\u00a0who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the administration had announced as part of the settlement.<\/p>\n

After days of negotiations, Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming \u201cbeyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the settlement of Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the IRS was announced, \u201cNo Members were appointed; no funds were transferred; no process for receiving claims was established; no claims were paid,\u201d the order said.<\/p>\n

Cornyn and Tillis had also pressed for clarification on a separate part of the settlement that would grant Trump and members of his family\u00a0immunity from tax audits.<\/p>

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The full Senate could vote later this week on Blanche\u2019s nomination. If all Democrats oppose him, Blanche can only afford to lose two Republican votes if Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was\u00a0hospitalized after a fall, does not return before then.<\/p>\n