Republicans say they will back Blanche after US Justice Department order

The path to confirmation for Todd Blanche as US Attorney General has advanced following his decision to formally rescind a disputed compensation fund. Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose votes were critical for advancing Blanche through the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced they would support his nomination after the fund was eliminated.

The fund in question, valued at $1.8 billion, had been created as part of a settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Trump had originally sought $10 billion from the tax agency in litigation. The compensation mechanism was designed to provide payments to individuals who claimed they were victims of government persecution, but the prospect of payments reaching participants in the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault generated bipartisan opposition.

Blanche, who currently serves as acting attorney general, had previously testified in June that the fund would not proceed. However, Trump continued publicly promoting it, and lawmakers remained unconvinced of its termination. Cornyn and Tillis had explicitly stated they would not confirm Blanche without written assurance the fund was dead. Trump had threatened to bypass the Senate confirmation process entirely if these senators withheld support.

The Justice Department issued a formal statement clarifying that no members were appointed to administer the fund, no money was transferred, and no claims process was established. The statement declared that the rescission order "establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund." With this obstacle removed, Blanche's confirmation through the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to proceed.