Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a significant hurdle Tuesday when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance his nomination to a full Senate vote. Blanche, a former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, has served as acting head of the Justice Department since April and is seeking confirmation as the permanent attorney general.

The confirmation process faced delays and uncertainty in recent weeks, primarily due to concerns from two Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Both members initially threatened to block Blanche’s nomination over issues related to a controversial settlement the Justice Department negotiated with the Internal Revenue Service. The agreement resolved Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit concerning the release of his tax returns and included a proposed $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate individuals who claim they were politically prosecuted, including some Trump allies.

Late Sunday, Blanche provided written assurances stating that the fund would not be implemented, effectively rescinding the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." These commitments addressed the holdouts’ concerns sufficiently for them to support his nomination in committee. Senators Cornyn and Tillis acknowledged the assurances but cautioned that the commitments could potentially be reversed in the future, as they had not been endorsed by Trump’s legal team directly. Cornyn described Blanche as a “stabilizing force” needed to lead the Justice Department and urged him to use his influence with the president to uphold the rule of law.

Despite this support from some Republicans, criticism remains. Senate Democrats, including Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Richard Durbin of Illinois, condemned the nomination, asserting that Blanche has compromised the Justice Department’s independence by facilitating actions aligned with President Trump’s political interests. Democrats also accused Blanche of enabling efforts to punish Trump’s perceived enemies and expressed concerns about his role in other controversial investigations, citing cases such as the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. Durbin called Blanche’s written assurances insufficient and called for legislation to permanently block the establishment of the fund.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine voiced her reluctance to support Blanche’s confirmation on the Senate floor, citing erosion of independence at the Justice Department and Blanche’s role in negotiating the IRS settlement. Meanwhile, committee Chairman Chuck Grassley expressed that concerns raised by Cornyn and Tillis were “common sense” and shared by many, endorsing the resolution of the issue prior to advancing the nomination.

With the committee approval secured, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota may schedule a full Senate vote on Blanche’s confirmation this week before the chamber recesses until mid-September. Blanche will need near-unanimous Republican support, as all Democrats are expected to oppose his nomination and Senate GOP holds a slim majority, complicated further by the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell, who remains hospitalized.

Blanche’s nomination has become a focal point for broader debates over the Justice Department’s independence and its role in politically charged prosecutions under the Trump administration. The upcoming Senate vote will test Republican unity and could shape the department’s trajectory in the months ahead.