{"id":2633302,"date":"2026-07-21T18:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T22:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/todd-blanche-faces-lingering-gop-holdouts-for-ag-post\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T18:21:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T22:21:24","slug":"todd-blanche-faces-lingering-gop-holdouts-for-ag-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/todd-blanche-faces-lingering-gop-holdouts-for-ag-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Todd Blanche faces lingering GOP holdouts for AG post"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><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%2Ftodd-blanche-faces-lingering-gop-holdouts-for-ag-post%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=2633302&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>President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, faces resistance from key senate Republicans due to concerns over his handling of the Justice Department\u2019s canceled \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d and his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein survivors. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis remain undecided and could block his confirmation, with Cornyn expressing particular doubts about Blanche\u2019s statements and the legality of the settlement agreement related to the fund. Blanche, a former personal attorney for Trump, has refused to answer certain questions surrounding the fund, raising further concerns. <\/p>\n<p>Epstein victims have criticized Blanche&#8217;s recent meeting with them as insufficient, urging Senators Cornyn and Tillis to oppose his confirmation, stating it would be a vote against survivors of sexual abuse. The Senate Judiciary committee is expected to vote on Blanche\u2019s confirmation around July 30, with a potential full Senate vote in early August before the recess. The debate centers on issues of accountability, transparency, and the handling of politically sensitive investigations.  <\/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\">President Donald Trump\u2019s pick for attorney general, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a>, has yet to win over key Senate Republicans for his handling of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department\u2019s<\/a> canceled \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1860\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> survivors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outgoing Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) remain noncommittal, either of whom could sink Blanche from advancing from the Senate Judiciary Committee in a vote expected next week. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), who does not sit on the panel, is also a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LauraEWeiss16\/status\/2079614768101433501?s=20\">potential wild card<\/a>.<\/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\/4657945\/todd-blanche-gop-holdouts-attorney-general-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Todd Blanche faces lingering GOP holdouts for attorney general post over \u2018anti-weaponization fund\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4657518\/thune-gop-welcome-fetterman-if-he-leaves-democratic-party\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune says GOP would welcome Fetterman if he leaves the Democratic Party<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4656756\/hunter-biden-closeted-gay-mafia-republicans-blackened-hearts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hunter Biden says \u2018closeted gay mafia\u2019 Republicans have \u2018blackened hearts\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4616938\/doj-not-sign-declaration-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">DOJ WON\u2019T SIGN DECLARATION OVER CANCELED ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND: \u2018DEMANDS ARE UNNECESSARY\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn and Tillis have expressed concerns about Blanche\u2019s controversial settlement agreement as acting attorney general with Trump to create a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. The fund, which was scrapped amid bipartisan pushback, was eligible to make payments to Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters, among others. Blanche is also Trump\u2019s former personal criminal defense attorney.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn, ousted from reelection by Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff primary, revealed his staff is in talks with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a> and the DOJ to nullify the fund beyond Blanche\u2019s verbal and written testimonies that it\u2019s \u201cdead.\u201d Subsequent assurances from Blanche about the terms of the settlement agreement, which were reached after a lawsuit from Trump for a leak of his tax returns, have been \u201cnot good enough\u201d for Cornyn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe weaponization provision is enforceable as a contract, even though [Blanche] said it doesn\u2019t exist and it hadn\u2019t been created,\u201d Cornyn said. \u201cThe agreement says it can\u2019t be changed, except by the parties, so that would have to be in writing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a separate interview this week with reporters, Cornyn warned the administration \u201cjust can\u2019t ignore this. It\u2019s not going to go away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/blanche_-_qfrs.pdf\">written responses<\/a> to additional questions from Judiciary Committee members, Blanche told Tillis 22 times it would be \u201cinappropriate\u201d to answer his questions on \u201cinternal deliberations\u201d or \u201chypothetical communications\u201d related to the fund, such as justification for it, how it would have been funded, or whether the decision not to move forward could be reversed at Trump\u2019s request.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis has also expressed a desire to receive a \u201cdebrief\u201d from Epstein survivors who recently met with Blanche. They\u2019re lobbying Blanche to prosecute people beyond the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pam-bondi-accuses-fbi-of-lying-delivering-partial-epstein-files-so-she-sets-a-24-hour-deadline-on-delivery-of-complete-collection\/\" title=\"Pam Bondi Accuses FBI of Lying, Delivering Partial Epstein Files - So She Sets a 24-Hour Deadline on Delivery of Complete Collection\">late child sex offender<\/a> and his former longtime co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as investigate the DOJ\u2019s handling of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17582\">Epstein files<\/a> release that included identifying information of victims. Blanche oversaw the release of the files.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche walks to speak with reporters after attending a meeting related to survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mariam Zuhaib)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26197663645178.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche walks to speak with reporters after attending a meeting related to survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mariam Zuhaib)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can have meetings all day long. Good meetings are when you accomplish something,\u201d Tillis said. \u201cI want to hear both from both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Epstein survivors described the Blanche meeting as \u201cinsufficient.\u201d More than two dozen of them released an open letter Tuesday lobbying Cornyn and Tillis to oppose Blanche\u2019s confirmation following what they condemned as a \u201cbox-checking exercise\u201d from the nominee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4652944\/epstein-victims-unsatisfied-meeting-todd-blanche\/\">EPSTEIN VICTIMS UNSATISFIED AFTER MEETING WITH TODD BLANCHE: \u2018CHECKING A BOX\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBoth of you have records of standing with survivors of human trafficking and sexual assault,\u201d they wrote to the GOP duo. \u201cA vote to confirm Todd Blanche would be a vote against those survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A vote to advance Blanche from the Judiciary Committee to the full Senate is expected July 30, followed by potential confirmation the first week of August before the upper chamber embarks on a monthlong recess. The panel\u2019s chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), expressed optimism about Blanche\u2019s ability to proceed with help from Tillis but did not address Cornyn\u2019s outstanding reservations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump\u2019s pick Todd Blanche faces GOP doubts over Epstein, anti-weaponization fund<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2633303,"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\/07\/AP26197663645178.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32116,6203,50402,35672,51594],"class_list":["post-2633302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-attorney-general","tag-gop","tag-leadership-2","tag-political-challenges","tag-todd-blanche"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26197663645178.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633302","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633302"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633306,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633302\/revisions\/2633306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}