The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, to advance the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after two Republican senators initially threatened to block the process.

Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had withheld support pending the formal termination of a $1.8 billion Department of Justice (DOJ) anti-weaponization fund. This fund was intended to compensate individuals who claimed the government was weaponized against them.

Cornyn and Tillis announced on Monday that they would vote in favor of Blanche after the DOJ released written documentation confirming the fund had been rescinded. They also demanded revisions to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement to ensure audit immunity for former President Donald Trump and his family was limited strictly to the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit.

In a joint statement, Cornyn and Tillis said, “We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund. Additionally, the Department has acknowledged in a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS and the Treasury, addressing concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.”

Senator Chuck Grassley expressed readiness for the committee vote, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “[The Judiciary Committee] is ready to vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination Tuesday [at] 9AM. Blanche is right pick for [attorney general] and our country is safer [with] him leading DOJ. [Thanks President] Trump [and] Blanche [and] Sens Cornyn & Tillis for working [through the weekend with] me to get the votes to advance this well qualified nominee.”

Tillis emphasized the need for the termination of the so-called 1776 fund and precise language regarding audits, saying, “It doesn’t include anybody but the parties of the agreement, and it can only be retroactive.”

Tillis had announced in June 2025 that he would not seek reelection after former President Trump threatened to support a primary challenger due to Tillis’s vote against the One Big, Beautiful Bill.

Sources