Trump’s attorney general pick faces possible Republican roadblock

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee to formally lead the Department of Justice, may face resistance from within his own party ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee vote. Republican Senator John Cornyn told reporters on Wednesday that he was not ready to support Blanche, citing concerns about his leadership of the department since taking over in an acting role in April.

The dispute centers in part on a May settlement connected to a lawsuit Trump brought against the Internal Revenue Service. According to Al Jazeera, the agreement would have protected Trump and his family from future IRS audits and created an “anti-weaponisation fund” for people claiming political persecution. Blanche later moved away from the fund after criticism from both parties, and a federal judge ruled the settlement illegal earlier this month. Cornyn said he still wanted written assurances that the fund was no longer active.

The committee vote is an important procedural step before any full Senate confirmation debate. Al Jazeera noted that Republicans on the committee would need to remain united for Blanche’s nomination to advance. The politics are complicated by Cornyn’s recent break with Trump, who endorsed former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against him in the Republican primary.

Blanche previously served as Trump’s criminal defence lawyer before joining the administration, a background that has drawn scrutiny from critics who question whether he can preserve the Justice Department’s independence. Blanche has denied that his relationship with Trump creates a conflict, while Trump defended him on Wednesday as “outstanding,” according to the report.