John Cornyn ‘not prepared’ to support Todd Blanche’s confirmation

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday that he is “not prepared to vote yes” on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to permanently head the Department of Justice.

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The Texas Republican — who lost his primary race in May to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, President Donald Trump’s chosen candidate — was set to meet with Blanche on Wednesday morning ahead of Thursday’s scheduled confirmation vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Cornyn, a member of the committee, is a key GOP holdout. One Republican no vote could sink Blanche’s nomination.

Cornyn has demanded that Blanche reopen and modify the controversial settlement agreement he brokered between Trump and the IRS. The senator has asked for proof that the proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund established as part of that deal is formally dead, and he has also demanded Blanche narrow the tax audit immunity provisions the settlement afforded to Trump and his family.

Cornyn called the meeting off after Blanche failed to provide “written proposals to modify the release that was signed in the tax dispute with President Trump,” as he had asked. He added that changes from Blanche “in a modified release form” would be “would be responsive” to his request, but that “for some reason…they simply refuse to do it.”

Shortly after the meeting was called off, a Justice Department official told MS NOW that the department “provided a written proposal to Senator Cornyn’s staff yesterday following ongoing discussion with both the Committee and the Senator’s office.” Cornyn’s office did not immediately return MS NOW’s request for comment on the DOJ statement.

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Speaking to reporters after announcing the meeting would not take place, Cornyn said that there would be no need to have any such meeting “if they will just produce the documentation that we’ve requested,” adding that Blanche testified under oath that he could meet the request during his confirmation hearing.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked Cornyn to decide on his position by 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Cornyn said.

“I’m not prepared to vote yes,” he added. “Let me let me put it that way.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has suggested that he, too, could oppose Blanche’s confirmation in committee. Due to the narrow Republican majority on the panel, one no vote is enough to prevent Blanche’s nomination from getting a Senate floor vote.

“Maybe they think I’m just going to give up or you know go along, but they’re mistaken,” Cornyn said when asked why he thinks the DOJ could be slow-walking his request.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.