‘Pathetic’: Fury as Senate Republican 'blinks' first in 'kabuki standoff' with Trump

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) was widely ridiculed Sunday night into Monday morning after appearing to cave to White House demands without securing any of the concessions he'd sought in return, multiple onlookers noted.

President Donald Trump has pressed GOP senators to confirm his pick for attorney general, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Cornyn, however, had vowed to withhold his support unless the Trump administration agreed to terminate its $1.7 billion “anti-weaponization fund” designed to award payouts to Capitol rioters, as well as a settlement agreement that granted Trump and his family broad immunity from the IRS.

In a late-night announcement Sunday, Blanche appeared to cave to Cornyn’s demands. However, journalists immediately noted that Blanche’s statement not only neglected to terminate Trump’s IRS immunity agreement, but was worded in such a way as to suggest the $1.7 billion fund would also be preserved in some form.

Nevertheless, Cornyn’s office confirmed that the Texas Republican – who was ousted by a Trump-backed challenger in May – “has reached an agreement” with the Trump administration regarding his demands.

“When this kabuki standoff began, Cornyn wanted Blanche to modify the purported settlement agreement. This isn’t that: Blanche rescinded a separate [Office of the Attorney General] directive,” wrote Adam Klasfeld, editor-in-chief of All Rise News.

“Cornyn knows the difference – and apparently, simply blinked. It’s difficult to see how these actions by Blanche accomplish anything concerning the ‘payouts for punks’ or sweeping tax amnesty for Trump and his family that Cornyn claimed to care about.”

Broadway performer Tony Clements argued that Cornyn’s conduct was “pathetic,” sarcastically quipping, “what a legacy” for the outgoing GOP senator whose decades-long career in politics was cut short by Trump.