{"id":2610733,"date":"2026-06-04T16:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T20:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-pump-the-brakes-on-blanche-ag-nomination\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T16:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T20:04:09","slug":"senate-republicans-pump-the-brakes-on-blanche-ag-nomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-pump-the-brakes-on-blanche-ag-nomination\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Republicans pump the brakes on Blanche AG nomination"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-republicans-pump-the-brakes-on-blanche-ag-nomination%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2610733&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>republicans signal that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche\u2019s Senate confirmation will face serious scrutiny despite his prior unanimous Republican support as deputy attorney general. At least three Judiciary Committee members-especially Sen.Thom Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn-are reportedly undecided, with Tillis emphasizing Blanche\u2019s need to be vetted closely on his Jan. 6 comments and whether President Trump loyalists will politicize the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche\u2019s path is intricate by his association with a controversial $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-gets-cold-reception-from-gop-on-capitol-hill\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s &#039;anti-weaponization&#039; fund gets cold reception from GOP on Capitol Hill\">776 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund<\/a> announced<\/a> last month, which the Justice Department killed after bipartisan backlash over whether it could compensate Jan. 6 Capitol attackers. Republicans fear the plan-or similar efforts-could return, putting Tillis and others on alert.<\/p>\n<p>Tho some Republicans express support and Majority Leader John Thune argues Blanche already has experience serving as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorney-lin-wood-defends-ag-bill-barr-after-announces-he-is-stepping-down-trump-voters-respond\/\" title=\"Attorney Lin Wood Defends AG Bill Barr After Announces He Is Stepping Down \u2014 Trump Voters Respond\">acting attorney general<\/a>, Cornyn raised concerns about whether the attorney general can effectively tell a president \u201cno,\u201d given the job\u2019s dual role as both presidential employee and self-reliant legal authority. Democrats and centrist Republicans are also expected to oppose him, leaving Blanche dependent on winning over additional swing GOP votes if the nomination advances.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are making clear that acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> won\u2019t have a cakewalk to Senate confirmation as members of the Judiciary Committee scrutinize everything from his Jan. 6 comments to his allegiance to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least three members of the committee, tasked with vetting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> nominees, are publicly undecided on whether to give Blanche a vote on the Senate floor. He was approved as deputy attorney general a year ago with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/legislative\/LIS\/roll_call_votes\/vote1191\/vote_119_1_00105.htm\">unanimous<\/a> Republican support, but the political climate has changed drastically since then.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4595577\/six-senate-republicans-support-blocking-trump-ballroom\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Six Senate Republicans support blocking construction of Trump\u2019s ballroom<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4594904\/senate-vote-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Three Republicans buck GOP as Senate defeats attempt to block Trump \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4592988\/nick-saban-warn-ncaa-race-to-bottom-spending\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Nick Saban warns that current NCAA landscape is a \u2018race to the bottom\u2019 if spending isn\u2019t reined in<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not only must Blanche win over Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who\u2019s promised to write off any nominee who\u2019s spoken approvingly of Jan. 6 defendants, but he must also get past Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who was freshly ousted by a Trump-backed challenger.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third Republican, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), is far less of a wild card, but all three are so far <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LauraEWeiss16\/status\/2062548983780642849?s=20\">noncommittal<\/a>. Other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee expressed support for Blanche on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMost of our members are pretty deferential to who the president wants in some of these key positions,\u201d said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), before pointing out that Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s obviously serving in the role already and clearly has experience in it, so that\u2019ll serve him well,\u201d Thune added. \u201cBut this is an environment where nothing\u2019s a safe or sure bet these days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump reignited a debate over Blanche\u2019s qualifications when he announced Wednesday night that he\u2019d ask for Senate confirmation and expected a vote \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Scavino47\/status\/2062369458723680722?s=20\">very quickly<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest stumbling block presently is a $1.776 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund that Blanche announced last month. The Justice Department killed the plan this week amid a bipartisan uproar over its potential to compensate individuals who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but Republicans fear Blanche could revive the fund at a later date.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think what we need to do right now is focus on the 1776 fund, or he\u2019s not going to have a very good time in the Judiciary Committee,\u201d Tillis said. \u201cJust think about what the Democrats will do to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blanche, who replaced former Attorney General Pam Bondi, will also face scrutiny over his reputation as a Trump loyalist. He rose to prominence as the president\u2019s personal attorney and is associated with the prosecution of Biden officials including former FBI Director James Comey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday, Cornyn joined Democrats in questioning Blanche\u2019s independence and whether he would politicize the Justice Department as its permanent head.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeing attorney general is probably one of the hardest jobs in the Cabinet, because you\u2019re working for the president, but you\u2019re also supposed to be able to tell the president no,\u201d Cornyn <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/2062542751183364175?s=20\">told<\/a> CNN. \u201cSo we need to talk about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>he holds Blanche in high regard, calling him \u201cinstrumental\u201d to resolving a dispute over Jerome Powell, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve. Tillis blocked the confirmation of Powell\u2019s successor until the DOJ agreed to drop an investigation into Fed cost overruns in April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Tillis promised to sift through Blanche\u2019s comments on the Capitol riot and previously flagged remarks he made at a conservative conference touting the pardons of Jan. 6 defendants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI mean, he\u2019s got good credentials,\u201d Tillis said of Blanche. \u201cPeople are going to hammer him because he was the president\u2019s personal attorney, but I\u2019m just more about getting through the J6 stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not a gray area for me,\u201d he added. \u201cEither he equivocated and said harming these Capitol police officers was an OK thing, or he didn\u2019t, and we\u2019ll find that in the due diligence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partisan split of the Judiciary Committee is what gives Tillis, or any other Republican, outsize sway over nominees. If a single GOP member votes \u201cno\u201d and all Democrats follow suit, then the panel deadlocks and the nomination effectively fails.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4595105\/todd-blanche-could-stay-doj-if-senate-stalls\/\">loophole<\/a> allowed former President Joe Biden to keep one of his acting Cabinet secretaries in place indefinitely despite a lack of Senate confirmation, and Trump himself has pushed the boundaries of the law with interim appointments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Thune said he expects the Judiciary Committee will process the nomination, and Trump has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4591889\/john-curtis-open-minded-swing-vote-kari-lake-ambassador\/\">withdrawn other appointees<\/a> in the face of GOP opposition. In one case, Tillis successfully vetoed Ed Martin over his Jan. 6 comments when Trump tapped him to be the DOJ\u2019s top prosecutor for Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the Senate floor, Blanche shouldn\u2019t expect any help from Democrats. Cabinet appointments have been controversial for the entirety of Trump\u2019s second term, and even centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), an occasional crossover vote, told reporters he\u2019s a \u201cno\u201d on Blanche.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4594904\/senate-vote-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/\"><strong>THREE REPUBLICANS BUCK GOP AS SENATE DEFEATS ATTEMPT TO BLOCK TRUMP \u2018ANTI-WEAPONIZATION\u2019 FUND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blanche would also have to convince centrist Republicans such as Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) if the Judiciary Committee advances his nomination later this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both have raised concerns about the \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4594904\/senate-vote-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">voted to block it<\/a> on the Senate floor Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republicans warn acting AG Todd Blanche won\u2019t sail through confirmation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3204,"featured_media":2610734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26153798396600-e1780600294358.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80836,47631,45389,35272,44832],"class_list":["post-2610733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-blanche-ag-nomination","tag-confirmation-hearings","tag-judicial-nominees","tag-senate-republicans","tag-us-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26153798396600-e1780600294358.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610733"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610737,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610733\/revisions\/2610737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}