Todd Blanche clears key committee hurdle for Attorney General nomination

Blanche, currently the acting attorney general and Trump’s former personal lawyer, secured the support of the two holdout Republicans on Sunday by pledging to narrow an agreement that previously shielded Trump from extensive tax audits. While the new terms permit audits on future tax returns, they remain limited regarding historical filings for the former president, his son, and their family business. Furthermore, Blanche issued orders intended to terminate the $1.8 billion fund designed to support individuals claiming unfair political prosecution.

Despite the concessions, critics remain skeptical. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff labeled the arrangement a “farce,” noting that the orders lack legislative permanence and fail to prevent the fund's revival. Concerns were amplified by the fact that Trump’s personal legal team did not sign off on the changes, despite the original settlement requiring unanimous approval. Skye Perryman, president of the advocacy group Democracy Forward, argued that the Justice Department is attempting to appease senators without providing legally binding commitments in court. The committee had previously stalled the confirmation process, marking a rare moment of friction between the White House and its own party members regarding the independence of the Justice Department.