Cornyn cancels meeting with Blanche ahead of key committee vote on AG nomination
Cornyn Halts Blanche Meeting as AG Nomination Vote Approaches
Tyunews.com – Todd Blanche's path to becoming the nation's chief law enforcement officer faces renewed uncertainty just twenty-four hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to cast its vote. While the nominee spent Wednesday on Capitol Hill engaging with multiple senators, a crucial encounter with Republican holdout Sen. John Cornyn was abruptly called off at the eleventh hour.
Cornyn's backing proves vital for Blanche's advancement through the committee. The Texas senator cited ongoing reservations regarding two matters: the Trump administration's settlement arrangement with the Internal Revenue Service and what officials have termed the "Anti-Weaponization Fund."
Documentation Dispute Drives Cancellation
According to Cornyn, the Department of Justice failed to deliver adequate paperwork addressing his core requirements. He insisted that the controversial fund be eliminated and that the IRS audit immunity provision within the settlement be substantially reduced in scope.
"To me, it's pretty simple. They could state that in a modified release form, and that would be responsive to my request. But for some reason, I don't know whether it's the staff of the DOJ or who it is, but they simply -- they know what they need to do, but they simply refuse to do it," Cornyn explained to journalists following the canceled encounter.
The senator added that holding a formal meeting became unnecessary if the department would merely produce the requested documentation—something Blanche had previously affirmed under oath during his confirmation proceedings.
Settlement Details and Audit Concerns
Under the terms of Trump's IRS settlement, the Justice Department issued an addendum bearing Blanche's signature in his capacity as acting attorney general. This document would prevent the government from pursuing any ongoing audits of tax returns submitted by Trump, his relatives, and affiliated businesses.
This provision particularly concerns Cornyn alongside other Republican lawmakers including Sen. Thom Tillis.
"There's no real need to have a meeting if they will just produce the documentation that we've requested, and that he testified to under oath during his hearing," Cornyn stated.
During a July 15 hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche declared that the contentious "Anti-Weaponization Fund" was effectively "dead." Cornyn had subsequently requested that this assurance be formalized in writing.
DOJ Response Falls Short
Reports indicate that the Justice Department did not supply Cornyn with a preliminary version of the updated settlement documents before Wednesday's scheduled meeting. Instead, the agency delivered a draft order from the Office of the Attorney General that would eliminate the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," accompanied by an explanation for the rescission.
However, this revised order left the audit-related components of the settlement entirely unchanged. With the deadline approaching, Cornyn remained unconvinced by the department's efforts.
"I haven't seen a single piece of writing that is responsive to what I've requested," Cornyn remarked.
Vote Timeline Remains Uncertain
It is still unclear whether the Senate Judiciary Committee will proceed with Blanche's nomination vote on Thursday. Cornyn indicated that committee Chairman Chuck Grassley requires his decision by 4 p.m. Wednesday to determine if a vote will occur the following day.
"Why don't you call over to the Department of Justice and tell them they have 1 hour and 50 minutes to get me what I asked for?" Cornyn urged reporters on Wednesday afternoon. "We actually sent them a red line strikeout of what we need, and they just need to make a decision. And if they do, then we'll proceed with the markup tomorrow."