The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Todd Blanche to lead the Justice Department on Tuesday, setting the stage for a full Senate confirmation vote that could occur as soon as this week. Blanche’s confirmation requires near-unanimous support from Republicans, as unified Democratic opposition is expected and Senator Mitch McConnell remains absent due to recovery from a fall. Several GOP senators have not yet indicated how they will vote.
Though the committee’s Republican members unanimously backed Blanche, discord surfaced between some Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration regarding the Justice Department’s direction during Blanche’s tenure. Senator Chuck Grassley, the committee chairman and a Trump ally, praised Blanche but criticized the delay in addressing concerns raised by Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis related to former President Donald Trump’s IRS agreement. Grassley called the delay “a crime” and shared the senators’ apprehensions.
Tillis also expressed skepticism about recent department prosecutions, including the indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey. Comey faces charges connected to a social media post depicting seashells arranged to suggest a veiled threat against Trump, an allegation Comey denies. Tillis challenged the legitimacy of this prosecution and urged Blanche to curtail what he dubbed “absurdity” within the department’s legal actions.
Cornyn commended Blanche for addressing issues tied to the IRS deal and urged the nominee to leverage the trust he has developed with Trump. “@POTUS needs someone in this role with a strong legal mind, but who also is close enough to him to give him confidential legal advice, and to tell him hard truths,” Cornyn said after the hearing, emphasizing the importance of Blanche’s counsel for the country’s interest.
Democrats, however, criticized Blanche’s tenure as Justice Department head, accusing him of undermining the department’s independence and prioritizing Trump’s political interests. Senator Adam Schiff said Blanche remains tethered to his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer, arguing he does not represent the broader public but rather the former president’s agenda. Democrats also highlighted Blanche’s role in negotiating the IRS settlement, contending it disadvantaged taxpayers while favoring Trump and his associates.
Blanche’s dealings with the Trump IRS agreement include written assurances eliminating a proposed $1.8 billion payout fund and clarifications about taxpayer protections for Trump and his family. Blanche has stated that these protections apply only retroactively, not preventing future IRS audits. Still, critics say the agreement grants an unusually favorable arrangement for Trump, who has long complained about repeated IRS examinations.
As the Senate prepares for the final confirmation vote, some Republican senators such as Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Bill Cassidy remain undecided, underscoring ongoing divisions within the GOP. Democrats remain hopeful that raising concerns about the IRS deal and the potential for renewed payout provisions could derail Blanche’s nomination. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse dismissed Blanche’s written assurances as vague and insufficient, saying they contain “enough weasel room” to undermine their intent.
The outcome of the vote will shape the Justice Department’s trajectory amid heightened scrutiny of its role in politically sensitive prosecutions and its relationship with former President Trump.