Senate Republicans are assessing the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, with members of the Judiciary Committee examining his past comments regarding the January 6 Capitol events and his ties to former President Donald Trump. Three committee members have expressed uncertainty about supporting Blanche's nomination for a Senate vote, despite his previous unanimous approval as deputy attorney general last year.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has indicated he will not support any nominee who has spoken favorably about January 6 defendants, while Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has raised concerns about Blanche's independence and potential politicization of the Justice Department. Blanche's recent announcement of a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund has also drawn scrutiny, particularly after the Justice Department retracted the plan amid bipartisan backlash.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) noted that Blanche has experience in his current role, having served as acting attorney general since April, but acknowledged the challenging political environment for nominations. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney, will need to address concerns from both Republican and Democratic senators regarding his qualifications and independence.
The Judiciary Committee's partisan split means that a single Republican dissent could lead to a deadlock on the nomination. Blanche's ability to secure support from centrist Republicans, such as Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), will also be crucial if the committee moves forward with his nomination later this year.
