WASHINGTON: Todd Blanche cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday on his path to nomination for US attorney general, as Republicans voted to advance him out of committee on a party-line vote. But questions persist about a deal he said would end President Donald Trump’s “anti-weaponisation” fund and narrow an agreement giving Trump immunity from audits of past tax returns.
Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer and the current acting attorney general, agreed on Sunday to amend the terms of the fund and the tax immunity deal in order to win the backing of two holdout Republican senators, although critics say the amendments do not go far enough.
He issued orders that he said ended the fund, and directed that the related tax immunity agreement only barred audits on past tax returns of Trump, his son and their family business. The agreement, though, allows for tax audits on future tax returns.
“You even have conservatives coming out and saying these are not worth the paper they are drawn on,” Senator Cory Booker said at Tuesday’s hearing.
“We got nothing. No guarantees whatsoever that this slush fund still cant go forward. We got nothing that the president of the United States cant cheat on his taxes and have no accountability.”
The holdout senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, said on Monday they were pleased with the agreement and would vote to advance Blanche’s nomination through the Judiciary Committee, arguing Blanche could offer stability to the department. Approval by the committee clears the way for a Senate confirmation vote later this week.
“Given this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation,” Cornyn said at Tuesday’s hearing, thanking Blanche for being willing to work with him and Tillis to find a solution.
Cornyn later told reporters he thought it was unlikely the fund would be reopened. “We have no alternative but to take his word,” he said. Tillis echoed Cornyn’s sentiment, and said both Democrats and Republicans have politicized the Justice Department to go after their perceived enemies of the opposing side.
“I thought the fund was an insult,” Tillis said. “Its been rescinded, and I am satisfied.”
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2026
