The confirmation process for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanchet may face delays if a planned meeting with Republican Senator John Cornyn from Texas does not occur.
Senators Cornyn and Thom Tillis from North Carolina have called on the Department of Justice to formally eliminate a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and to revise the language of the IRS settlement that currently restricts tax audits of Donald Trump and his family. This meeting between Cornyn and Blanche was scheduled at the last minute.
On Wednesday, Cornyn’s backing for advancing Blanche’s nomination from the Senate Judiciary Committee appeared uncertain. He mentioned that Blanche hadn’t sufficiently addressed his requests and urged for written proposals from the Justice Department regarding these matters.
“My meeting with Todd Blanche has been canceled. We made it clear from the start that we wanted a written proposal to modify the settlement related to President Trump’s tax dispute,” Cornyn told reporters. He indicated that there was still some time to resolve the situation, highlighting the importance of reconciling the documents with Blanche’s sworn testimony.
He added, “Two meetings were set, but they’ve now been canceled due to a lack of written documentation.”
The Justice Department responded, stating that a written proposal had indeed been sent to Cornyn’s office following ongoing discussions.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department commented on their intentions: “We look forward to further discussions regarding outstanding concerns.”
Cornyn has emphasized he won’t support Blanche’s nomination unless these issues are resolved.
A White House representative praised Blanche’s role as acting attorney general, calling him an American patriot who has stood up against what they termed an unprecedented legal campaign from the Democratic Party on behalf of Trump.
Cornyn noted that “there was no agreement” concerning Blanche’s nomination, expressing that his concerns hadn’t been adequately addressed with the appropriate documentation.
“Fake News Alert: There is no ‘deal’ regarding Blanche’s nomination. They know what they need to do,” Cornyn stated on social media.
Fake News Alert: There is no “deal” in Blanche’s nomination. they know what they have to do.
— Sen. John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn)
Senator Tillis indicated he was willing to support Blanche if his conditions regarding the weaponized fund and IRS audit were met, specifying that the agreement needed careful revision and should not involve non-parties.
In a condition for his support, Tillis also requested a meeting between Blanche and alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, which reportedly occurred and appeased Tillis.
The Trump administration has been in direct communication with aides of both Cornyn and Tillis regarding Blanche’s nomination, as a single “no” vote from a Republican could endanger his confirmation process.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s nomination soon, but it remains unclear if that vote will take place as planned. Chairman Grassley mentioned he heard positive remarks from Tillis about Blanche but did not comment on Cornyn’s stance.
Earlier this year, Cornyn faced political challenges after Trump endorsed his opponent in the May primary. Tillis announced in mid-2025 that he would not run for re-election due to Trump threatening to support a primary challenger.
In a recent statement, Cornyn was accused of being “deeply dishonest” regarding his support of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act, suggesting there was a lack of cooperation among senators during crucial moments.
