US Senate delays vote on Todd Blanche''s attorney general nomination demanding clarity on Trump's IRS lawsuit

By Malek Fouda Published on 30/07/2026 - 6:54 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The US Department of Justice said in a statement after the vote was postponed that it remains ready to work productively with senators Cornyn and Tillis to advance Blanche’s confirmation. Todd Blanche’s nomination to become US Attorney General stalled on Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote on Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination – brought forward by Trump shortly after Pam Bondi’s departure – to the full chambre. Senator John Cornyn speaks during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Mark Schiefelbein/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved. But resistance from two Republican senators on the committee who could block Blanche's nomination threw his confirmation into doubt. A spokesperson for the committee said in a statement on Wednesday night that the vote would be postponed “as work continues to secure sufficient support.” The delay came after hours of negotiations between the US Justice Department and Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, over the controversial settlement that afforded Trump and some of his family protection from tax audits. Senator Thom Tillis speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Allison Robbert/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved. At the centre of the fight is the resolution of Trump’s $10 billion (€8.7 billion) lawsuit against the IRS. It included a deal to drop tax claims against the president and a now-scrapped plan to create a $1.78 billion (€1.55 billion) “Anti-Weaponisation Fund” to compensate people who believe they were wronged by the Justice Department. The department said in June that it was no longer moving forward with the “Anti-Weaponisation Fund" amid bipartisan outrage, but officials have said the audit immunity agreement remains in place. Cornyn and Tillis have demanded additional assurances in writing that the “Anti-Weaponisation Fund” is dead and have pressed for clarification on the scope of the tax immunity deal. FILE - The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, is photographed March 22, 2013 Susan Walsh/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved. Cornyn says he wants the administration to modify that piece of the settlement to make clear that it covers only existing audits and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings. Cornyn, who recently lost the Republican primary in Texas, accused the US Justice Department on Wednesday of “stonewalling” and said “the ball is in Blanche’s court.” “We’re been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won’t let us. It’s befuddling to me,” Cornyn told reporters. US President Donald Trump speaks about Dulles International Airport modernisation, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved. The Justice Department reportedly sent Cornyn and Tillis new language on Wednesday evening in an effort to satisfy their demands, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the AP. Trump downplayed any concerns about Blanche's path to confirmation, calling his attorney general pick and former personal attorney “outstanding." “Maybe John Cornyn’s upset with me because I didn’t endorse him,” Trump told reporters in response to questions about the senator's requests. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn €71 million defamation award in sexual assault case Trump and Netanyahu hold first face-to-face talks since their 'disagreement' on the Iran war Zelenskyy and Trump hold closed-door White House talks on war in Ukraine lawsuit Donald Trump Washington US Senate United States Tax