Trump Wanted to Appoint His Friend to the Most Sensitive Position - the Senate Set an Unusual Condition
The US Senate Judiciary Committee approved the advancement of Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General by a vote of 12 to 10, after he agreed to formally dissolve a controversial $1.8 billion fund. Blanche, Trump's former lawyer, also met with Epstein victims as a condition for Senator Tillis's support. Democrats opposed the nomination. Next step: a full Senate vote.
The US Senate Judiciary Committee approved the advancement of Todd Blanche's nomination for the next Attorney General of the United States by a vote of 12 in favor and 10 against. Blanche, former criminal defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, served as Deputy Attorney General and, after the dismissal of Pam Bondi, was appointed Acting Attorney General. The approval came after Blanche agreed to formally dissolve in writing a controversial plan to establish a $1.8 billion fund, dubbed the "fund against turning the Department of Justice into a weapon," which was created as part of a settlement between Trump and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in exchange for waiving a $10 billion lawsuit. Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, expressed concern and demanded a written commitment that the fund would not return. Additionally, Tillis demanded that Blanche meet with Jeffrey Epstein's victims, and Blanche complied, but the women reported feeling rejected. Democrats, led by Dick Durbin, opposed the nomination, arguing that Blanche's ties to Trump undermine the independence of the office. The next step is a full Senate vote, where Republicans have a majority.