Republicans undecided on attorney general nomination

Two Republicans on stage Senate Judiciary Committee He said Thursday they were undecided on voting to confirm Todd Blanche’s appointment as U.S. attorney, jeopardizing President Donald Trump’s nominee’s position as the nation’s top law enforcement official.

“I’m still thinking about it,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told MS NOW when asked where he and other Judiciary panel members stand on Blanche, a day after questioning the nominee on the first day of her confirmation hearing about controversial and now-obsolete $1.8 billion in Justice Department funds.

Asked if he was undecided, Cornyn said, “Yes.” “Like, I’ve said this a few times.”

Cornyn is one of 11 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, which also includes 10 Democrats. Republicans, R.S.C. It lost a member when Senator Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly last weekend. Cornyn is set to leave the Senate in early January after losing his state’s Republican Senate primary in May.

Another Republican on the committee, Sen. Thom Tillis said he wanted Blanche to meet with the victims of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before voting on her confirmation during the second day of hearings on Thursday.

This is yet another example of Republicans leaving office roadblocking Trump’s agenda while voicing concerns about some of the president’s actions. Blanche is a former criminal defense attorney for the president.

Blanche faced criticism for not interviewing the victims themselves and on behalf of the Ministry of Justice; whereas Blanche was no. 2. leadership position — releasing dossiers on Epstein that contained identifying information about them.

At the hearing, which Blanche did not attend, Tillis said, “I have not made a final decision, but Mr. Blanche said very quickly yesterday that he would meet with the Epstein victims today if it could be arranged.” he said.

“I understand the restriction that the attorney must be present. I expect this meeting to occur before I am willing to vote from this committee,” Tillis said. “This is a very important part of getting to yes.”

Tillis also said he, like Cornyn, has concerns about Justice Department funding.

“There are very specific, measurable work products — not a wink, a nod, and a handshake — but identifiable, approved, implemented agreements that would make me feel comfortable that this idea turkey is dead,” Tillis said.

If Cornyn or Tillis, along with all Democrats, votes against forwarding Blanche’s nomination (as expected) and the remaining Republicans vote for Blanche, the nomination will be delayed in the Judiciary Committee.

This would prevent the full Senate from voting on the nomination.

Blanche, who was confirmed by the Senate as deputy attorney general last year, has served as acting attorney general since April, when Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi.

If Blanche is not confirmed as his replacement, he will be able to continue his duties as acting attorney general.

Asked Thursday whether he was still concerned about whether the Justice Department’s “War on Guns” fund was truly dead — as Blanche claimed — Cornyn said “yeah, yeah.”

Cornyn pressed Blanche at Wednesday’s hearing about the fund the acting attorney general created as part of an out-of-court settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

The fund was set aside by the Ministry of Justice for alleged victims of prosecutorial overreach.

Critics, including Republican senators, called it a “slush fund” and feared it could be used to pay Trump supporters to people convicted of attacking police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Blanche had previously told Congress that the fund was dead, but had refused to put that claim in writing in court filings in a case questioning its legality. Trump continued to express interest in the fund after Blanche said it was withdrawn due to legal challenges.

Cornyn asked Wednesday whether Trump and other plaintiffs in the IRS case might sue to revive the fund. He noted the language in the settlement agreement stating that it “may only be amended upon written consent of the parties.”

“I guess they can sue, and so can we,” replied Blanche.

“But even if we filed a lawsuit, there is no fund. So the results of such a lawsuit, whatever they may be, do not mean a revival of the fund.”

Cornyn later told reporters he was concerned that language in the agreement left the door open for revitalizing the fund.

At Thursday’s judicial hearing, former Attorney General John Ashcroft testified in support of Blanche.

“Todd Blanche presided over the release of nude photos of survivors, the unearthing of ‘Jane Does,’ and the disclosure of information and documents describing horrific acts of abuse of more than a hundred victims, including mine,” Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified against the nomination, telling senators.