Senate Republicans pump the brakes on Blanche AG nomination
Republicans are making clear that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche won’t have a cakewalk to Senate confirmation as members of the Judiciary Committee scrutinize everything from his Jan. 6 comments to his allegiance to President Donald Trump.
TL;DR
- Several Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are undecided on confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
- Concerns center on Blanche's past comments regarding the January 6th Capitol riot and his allegiance to former President Donald Trump.
- A recently announced "anti-weaponization" fund, intended to compensate individuals involved in the Jan. 6th events, has drawn bipartisan criticism and raised red flags for Republican senators.
- Senators like Thom Tillis and John Cornyn have expressed specific reservations, with Tillis focusing on Jan. 6th comments and Cornyn questioning Blanche's independence and potential to politicize the Justice Department.
- The partisan split on the Judiciary Committee gives individual Republican members significant leverage, as a single "no" vote combined with unanimous Democratic opposition could deadlock the nomination.
- Democrats are expected to oppose Blanche's confirmation, and centrist Republicans like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have also voiced concerns about the "anti-weaponization" fund.