{"id":1887,"date":"2026-08-04T18:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T18:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1887"},"modified":"2026-08-04T18:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T18:00:13","slug":"republicans-clear-todd-blanche-for-top-us-justice-department-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1887","title":{"rendered":"Republicans clear Todd Blanche for top US Justice Department role"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (3 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here to share on social media<\/div>\n<p><title>share-nodes<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<div class=\"rich-share__links rich-share__links--row\" data-testid=\"share-links\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__social rich-share__social--row\"><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F99wnqv\"><title>facebook<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Republicans%20clear%20Todd%20Blanche%20for%20top%20US%20Justice%20Department%20role&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F99wnqv\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F99wnqv\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/99wnqv\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/afp_6a720ee75f7a-1785859815.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 04: U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) speaks as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee gather to vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be U.S. Attorney General on Capitol Hill on August 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. Blanche&apos;s nomination had been previously postponed after Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) raised concerns over the Justice Department\u2019s $1.8 billion &quot;Anti-Weaponization Fund\u201d which Blanche rescinded earlier this week. Win McNamee\/Getty Images\/AFP (Photo by WIN MCNAMEE \/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA \/ Getty Images via AFP)\"><\/div><figcaption>US Senator Thom Tillis speaks as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of a vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be US attorney general in Washington, DC [AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span><a href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\">Al Jazeera Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 4 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">4 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p>United States President Donald Trump\u2019s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has cleared a major hurdle in his effort to be confirmed as the country\u2019s top law enforcement official.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Blanche was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 vote along party lines, the last major step before his confirmation is put to a full vote in the Senate in the coming days.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/15\/todd-blanches-loyalty-to-trump-questioned-in-senate-confirmation-hearing\">Todd Blanche\u2019s loyalty to Trump questioned in Senate confirmation hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/29\/trumps-attorney-general-pick-faces-possible-republican-roadblock\">Trump\u2019s attorney general pick faces possible Republican roadblock<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/30\/republicans-delay-vote-on-trumps-us-attorney-general-pick-amid-concerns\">Republicans delay vote on Trump\u2019s US attorney general pick amid concerns<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>The vote followed days of delay after <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/3\/republicans-say-they-will-back-blanche-after-us-justice-department-order\">two Republicans<\/a>, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voiced concerns over Blanche\u2019s close relationship to Trump, and specifically, his role in a settlement between the president and the US tax agency, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).<\/p>\n<p>The deal created a $1.8bn so-called \u201canti-weaponisation\u201d fund, which critics saw as a scheme to reward Trump\u2019s allies using taxpayer money, while also limiting certain future IRS audits involving Trump, his oldest sons and the Trump Organization. A federal judge has accused Blanche of double-dealing in the proceedings, alleging he was working on behalf of both the president\u2019s personal interests and the government agency he was meant to defend.<\/p>\n<p>While Blanche has since said the fund has been voided, Cornyn and Tillis repeatedly warned last week that he had not provided adequate assurances that the deal could not be revived in the future. Trump did little to calm the concerns as he <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/1\/trump-pledges-to-pursue-anti-weaponisation-fund-amid-blanche-standoff\">renewed<\/a> his defence of the settlement.<\/p>\n<p>Over the weekend, Blanche, who is currently serving as acting attorney general, posted signed documents rescinding the fund and clarifying the scope of who is shielded from future IRS investigation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While experts have questioned whether the documents would indeed be legally binding, both Cornyn and Tillis shifted on Monday, saying they would support Blanche\u2019s nomination.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:block;position:relative;min-width:0px;max-width:770px\">\n<\/div>\n<p>Still, speaking ahead of the vote on Tuesday, Republican Senator Charles Grassley sided with his colleagues, calling it a \u201ccrime\u201d that it took so long for the Department of Justice to provide stronger assurances on the fund. He maintained the issue had been put \u201cto bed once and for all\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>For their part, Democrats on the committee, all of whom voted against Blanche\u2019s nomination, accused Republicans of papering over concerns related to Blanche\u2019s loyalty to Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Chris Coons of Delaware said, \u201ccitizens want and truly deserve an independent and transparent Department of Justice\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think Mr Blanche can or even wants to deliver on that goal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Illinois Senator Dick Durbin charged Blanche has \u201caided and abetted the most corrupt administration in the history of the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:block;position:relative;min-width:0px;max-width:770px\">\n<\/div>\n<p>Of particular concern has been Blanche\u2019s apparent willingness as acting attorney general to prosecute Trump\u2019s political enemies. That includes former FBI Director <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/29\/james-comeys-lawyers-say-us-government-distorted-details-in-seashell-case\">James Comey<\/a>, who was indicted for allegedly threatening the president with a social media post containing the numbers \u201c86 47\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The term \u201c86\u201d emerged from the restaurant industry, referring to removing an item from a menu. The term \u201c47\u201d has been seen as a reference to Trump, the 47th president of the US.<\/p>\n<p>Legal experts have <a href=\"\/news\/2026\/7\/29\/james-comeys-lawyers-say-us-government-distorted-details-in-seashell-case\">questioned<\/a> the strength of the case, arguing the vague message likely falls under protected political speech.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking ahead of Tuesday\u2019s committee vote, Republican Tillis argued both parties have had a problem with the \u201cweaponisation\u201d of the federal justice system in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m going to support Mr Blanche\u2019s nomination, but what I hope I see out of him is a bending of the curve of this absurdity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (3 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo US Senator Thom Tillis speaks as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of a vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be US attorney general in Washington, DC [AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff Published [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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