Blanche approved by Judiciary Committee, sending Trump's AG nominee to full Senate vote
Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche will still need to receive 50 votes on the Senate floor to be confirmed after clearing the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Todd Blanche as President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general on Tuesday, with a vote of 12-10. This decision paves the way for Blanche to advance to the full Senate floor for a confirmation vote. The confirmation process is contingent upon Blanche receiving a majority of 50 votes.
Currently, several Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski, Bill Cassidy, and Susan Collins, have not yet pledged their support for Blanche. To secure his confirmation, Blanche can only afford to lose two GOP votes, considering the Republican majority of 53-47 in the Senate and the medical absence of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The committee's approval of Blanche comes after he reached an agreement with Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who expressed satisfaction with the termination of the controversial "anti-weaponization fund." Despite verbal assurances, Blanche was required to confirm the program's end in writing to secure the committee's vote.
Democrats on the committee remain skeptical that the fund could be resurrected, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal dismissing the "anti-weaponization fund" agreement as a "sham" and a "fraud on Congress."
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