Major vote held on Todd Blanche's controversial attorney general nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, sending President Donald Trump's former personal attorney one step closer to permanently leading the Justice Department.

"Senate Judiciary Committee votes Todd Blanche out of committee favorably, 12-10. Thune can file cloture on him tomorrow and set up his confirmation later this week," reported Semafor congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett on X.

The vote came days after Blanche, the acting attorney general, formally rescinded a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that would have paid out to Trump supporters. That reversal, put in writing Sunday night, won over Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had spent days blocking his path until they got proof the fund was dead. Trump has said he could revive the fund if Blanche is not confirmed.

The concession left untouched a separate part of Blanche's IRS settlement: an order shielding the president, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization from audits of their past tax returns. The New York Times has estimated such an audit could have cost Trump $100 million or more.

Blanche's handling of that settlement drew a rebuke from a federal judge, who found he and his subordinates "ignored ethical norms, court rules, and legal authority to manipulate the judicial process." Democrats have argued his willingness to protect Trump personally makes him unfit to lead the nation's top law enforcement agency.

Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April and previously served as Trump's personal defense attorney. The settlement, struck to resolve Trump's $10 billion lawsuit over his leaked tax returns, has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties.

The nomination now heads to the full Senate, where Republicans hope to confirm Blanche before the August recess.