Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche hasn’t yet won over Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and his confirmation hearing to permanently lead the Justice Department did little to quell concerns about the Trump administration’s “anti-weaponization” fund.
Blanche came into his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with a clear objective: win over Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and lock down the panel’s approval before getting a full vote on the floor.
Tillis told reporters afterward that he is “leaning yes” on the nomination. That leaves Cornyn as Blanche’s main obstacle. Cornyn made clear he was still undecided after Blanche gave what he viewed as insufficient assurances that the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund is dead. He was also concerned about a related tax immunity deal struck with President Donald Trump and his family.