Cornyn says he will withhold support for Todd Blanche unless DOJ provides written assurances, as Senate vote delayed

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a scheduled vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be U.S. attorney general after Republican Sen. John Cornyn said the Department of Justice did not provide him with written assurances addressing concerns about a reported $1.8 billion “slush fund” proposal tied to the case of a former DOJ official, according to The Guardian. Cornyn indicated he would not support the nomination without the written confirmation.

Cornyn’s position, as described by The Guardian, put Blanche’s committee prospects in question ahead of a Thursday vote that had been expected to move forward. The report said Cornyn would require the department to confirm in writing that the plan was no longer active, and that absent such confirmation, he would not back the nomination.

Blanche, a prominent attorney associated with the Trump administration, has been under consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee for the attorney general post. The committee’s scheduling action reflects how individual senators can affect timing even when a nomination is already set for markup or vote, particularly when lawmakers seek documentary assurances tied to pending or contested departmental plans.

The dispute centers on what Cornyn characterized as an effort described as a $1.8 billion “slush fund.” The Guardian reported that DOJ did not provide the written assurance Cornyn sought, leading to the postponement. The report framed Cornyn’s request as a requirement to ensure that the administration’s implementation plans match what senators are willing to support.

The practical effect of the delay is that Blanche’s nomination will not advance from committee on the originally planned timeline. If the committee later reschedules a vote, Cornyn’s stated condition suggests that additional documentation or formal clarification from DOJ could become part of the pre-vote checklist for some senators, potentially affecting whether the committee can reach the votes needed to move the nomination forward.

A Judiciary Committee vote is one of the procedural steps that can determine whether a nomination advances to the full Senate for consideration. Without a committee action in the near term, Blanche’s confirmation path becomes tied to when DOJ provides the requested materials and when leadership can schedule a subsequent committee meeting.