The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, clearing the path for a vote on the Senate floor after Blanche reached an agreement with two Republican holdouts regarding a disputed fund.
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche Nomination
In negotiations with Republican senators whose support was required for confirmation, Blanche formally rescinded a fund intended to compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies. The fund, valued in various discussions at $1.8 billion or $1.776 billion, had drawn sharp opposition from lawmakers. Sen. Tillis described the arrangement as a payout pot that he disliked and considered an insult to police officers and defenders on Jan. 6, adding that the fund is now done and rescinded.
Scrutiny Over Audit Immunity and Legal Loopholes
Despite the rescission of the fund, a sweeping audit immunity plan covering the president, his adult children, and the Trump Organization remains intact. The immunity deal was originally struck to resolve a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against the IRS over leaked tax returns.
According to a document sent by Blanche to lawmakers, the audit immunity applies strictly on a retroactive basis to claims that were open when the lawsuit was settled, and it will not protect the president from examinations of future tax filings. However, the arrangement has generated bipartisan outrage and tested confidence in the tax system.
During the committee review meeting, Democratic members raised concerns about loopholes in the agreement. Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the top Democrat on the panel, noted that the underlying lawsuit remains active and that the documents released by Blanche were unsigned by the parties to the settlement agreement, rendering them unenforceable. Durbin warned that the fund could potentially be revived through a new order from the Department of Justice following confirmation.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) dismissed the documents released as decorative and lacking legal effect. Similarly, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) questioned why the Justice Department has not affirmed the death of the fund in pending lawsuits, pointing out that Trump’s legal team recently appealed a ruling criticizing the IRS suit as collusive.
Legal Questions and Path to the Senate Floor
Legal and tax experts have raised questions about whether the immunity agreement violates an IRS statute that bars executive branch interference in taxpayer audits and investigations. The rule restricting executive influence over tax audits was established following the Watergate scandal, when Congress moved to tighten taxpayer privacy protections in 1976. Nina Olson, founder of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, characterized the settlement as the lowest point for the IRS since the 1970s.
While Blanche maintained under oath in Congress and in writing to lawmakers that the administration is not pursuing the fund, President Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that he would push hard for the fund if Blanche were not confirmed.
Following the committee’s action, the nomination moves toward consideration by the full Senate. It remains unclear how the nomination will fare in the full chamber, where several key Republicans, including Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have not stated whether they will support the nomination.
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