Senator Tillis Says Blanche Won't Be Confirmed as Attorney General

Senator Thom Tillis said on Saturday that Todd Blanche will not be confirmed as Attorney General. This comes after President Trump made comments about his 'anti-weaponization' fund, which has been a point of contention between the White House and some Senate Republicans. Tillis stated that despite comments suggesting the fund was dead, President Trump intends to resurrect it, either by establishing another fund or pushing Congress to vote on a bill that most Senate Republicans would oppose.

The 'anti-weaponization' fund has been a red line for Tillis and Senator John Cornyn, who have refused to vote for Blanche until the DOJ puts into writing that aspects of the deal are not moving forward. Both Tillis and Cornyn sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and their votes are needed to advance Blanche's nomination to a confirmation vote. Earlier on Saturday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that if Tillis and Cornyn weren't going to vote for Blanche, he would maintain Blanche as acting Attorney General and revive a bill to establish the fund.

The president had previously floated withdrawing Blanche's name and keeping him on in an acting capacity until Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate in January. However, on Friday, Trump said Blanche should be 'immediately approved,' a call seconded by members of his administration. The fights over Blanche, the fund, and Trump's influence over Senate Republicans are converging, with no clear end in sight.