Vote on Blanche's nomination delayed as key Republicans withhold support : NPR

Key Points:

• Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general has been delayed as the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a planned vote due to Republican senators demanding more clarity on the settlement of President Trump's IRS lawsuit.
• Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis seek written assurances that the controversial "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is permanently canceled and want clarification that the tax immunity deal only applies to existing audits, not future ones.
• The Justice Department has sent revised language to address these concerns, but Cornyn accused the department of "stonewalling" and said progress depends on Blanche.
• The settlement, which dropped tax claims against Trump and included the now-scrapped $1.776 billion fund, has faced bipartisan criticism and judicial scrutiny, with a judge questioning Blanche's role given his prior representation of Trump.
• Trump downplayed the confirmation issues, suggesting Cornyn's opposition may relate to a lack of his endorsement, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Trump's endorsed candidate, defeated Cornyn in the Republican primary.