Todd Blanche nomination on edge over Trump, IRS settlement

Key Points:

• Senator John Cornyn, a key Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, canceled a second meeting with nominee Todd Blanche over unresolved concerns about a controversial IRS settlement involving former President Trump, putting Blanche's attorney general nomination at risk.
• Cornyn demands written assurances from the Department of Justice clarifying that the settlement does not shield Trump, his family, or business entities from IRS audits or enforcement actions related to tax returns filed before the settlement.
• Senator Thom Tillis shares Cornyn's concerns, particularly about a $1.8 billion DOJ fund to compensate alleged victims of prosecutorial overreach, which Blanche said he canceled; both senators want guarantees the fund cannot be reinstated.
• The Judiciary Committee, with a Republican majority, is set to vote on Blanche's nomination Thursday, but if Cornyn or Tillis vote against advancing it, the nomination will not reach the full Senate for a vote.
• Cornyn, who is leaving the Senate in January after losing a primary runoff, criticized the DOJ for not adequately addressing his requests despite providing a written proposal, signaling continued opposition to Blanche's confirmation.