Todd Blanche Sworn In As Attorney General After Narrow 50-49 Senate Confirmation
Todd Blanche was sworn in as U.S. attorney general in the Oval Office on Monday, August 10, 2026, after a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation that leaves the Justice Department under sharp partisan scrutiny.[1]
Judge Emil Bove, a former Trump defense-team colleague now on the bench, administered the oath as President Trump looked on.[1] Blanche then arrived at Justice Department headquarters, where employees lined the entrance as he took command.[2]
The Senate confirmed Blanche 50-49 early Saturday, August 8, 2026, with Sen. Bill Cassidy's yes vote providing the decisive margin after GOP defections and Democratic opposition.[3] Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined all Democrats in voting no, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was absent.[4]
In late July, Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis withheld support, demanding written assurances that a proposed $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" be permanently abandoned and that the Trump-IRS audit-immunity language be narrowed to cover only existing audits.[5] On Sunday, August 2, Blanche issued a formal DOJ order rescinding the fund and a written clarification saying the audit protections apply only retroactively to audits open at the time and only to Donald Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization.[6] After those documents, Cornyn and Tillis backed Blanche and the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination 12-10 on August 4.[7] Legal challenges followed: on August 6 the National Treasury Employees Union and allied plaintiffs amended suits to directly challenge the IRS immunity provisions.[8]
Early coverage framed the fight as a standoff mainly with Cornyn and Tillis, but reporting shifted as more Republicans expressed concern and some moved to oppose Blanche outright.[5] Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski cited worries about politicization of DOJ and the handling of the Epstein files when announcing their no votes, and Democrats warned Blanche's confirmation could weaken the department's independence.[9]
The mainstream summary frames Todd Blanche's confirmation as a narrow victory for the Republican Party, but Matthew Yglesias argues that the narrative of Republican disarray is overstated. He contends that despite some defections, the party remains cohesive and capable of advancing its agenda through procedural means, which the summary does not fully address. This perspective suggests that the confirmation was not merely a partisan struggle but rather a demonstration of the GOP's ability to rally support and navigate internal dissent effectively.
Furthermore, while the mainstream account notes the concerns raised by Senators Collins and Murkowski, Noah Smith critiques the Democrats' response as inadequate, arguing that their limited procedural opposition is unlikely to prevent the politicization of the Justice Department. He emphasizes that the advancement of Blanche's nomination amidst clear controversies highlights a failure of institutional checks, a nuance that the summary overlooks. This skepticism about the effectiveness of current political dynamics underscores a broader concern regarding the future integrity of federal law enforcement, which is not captured in the mainstream narrative.
Show source details & analysis (67 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- In late July 2026, Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis withheld support for Todd Blanche’s nomination and demanded written assurances that the nearly $1.8 billion Anti‑Weaponization Fund be permanently abandoned and that the Trump–IRS audit‑immunity language be narrowed to cover only existing audits.
- After hours of July 29 negotiations produced revised settlement language, the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its July 30 committee vote while Republicans continued pressing DOJ for written guarantees.
- On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal DOJ order rescinding the Anti‑Weaponization Fund, declaring "beyond any doubt" there is no Fund and stating that no members were appointed, no funds transferred, no claims process was created and no claims were paid.
- Blanche’s August 2 documents also narrowed the IRS settlement’s audit‑immunity protections, clarifying they apply only retroactively to audits open at the time of the settlement and only to Donald Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization (excluding future tax filings and broader affiliates).
- Following Blanche’s written rescission and clarifications, Senators Cornyn and Tillis backed his nomination and the Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche to the full Senate on August 4, 2026 by a party‑line 12‑10 vote.
- Key Republican opposition remained on the floor—Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted no—so Sen. Bill Cassidy’s yes became decisive and the Senate confirmed Blanche 50‑49 early on Saturday, August 8, 2026 (with Sen. Mitch McConnell absent).
- Legal challenges continued: on August 6, 2026 the National Treasury Employees Union and allied plaintiffs filed amended suits directly challenging the IRS immunity provisions and arguing Blanche’s unsigned memo and rescission left loopholes that could allow revival of the fund or continuation of broad protections.
- Blanche’s nomination and confirmation were sharply polarizing—Democrats and critics accused him of politicizing DOJ (citing firings, targeting of political opponents, and the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files), and Epstein survivors said Blanche was condescending in a delayed meeting.
- Todd Blanche was formally sworn in as attorney general in an Oval Office ceremony on Monday, August 10, 2026, with Judge Emil Bove administering the oath; he then arrived at DOJ headquarters to assume command.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (3)
Republicans are in too little disarray
"The author argues (contrary to widespread narratives of GOP collapse) that Republicans remain sufficiently organized and disciplined to accomplish key aims — illustrated by party-line maneuvers like advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination despite objections — and warns opponents not to overread episodic infighting as terminal disarray."
Are the Democrats going to save us this time?
"The piece is a skeptical critique of whether Democrats will meaningfully counteract the Trump administration’s politicization of the Justice Department (exemplified by the Blanche nomination), arguing that the committee’s procedural handling and reliance on narrow concessions show Democrats are unlikely to 'save us' without deeper political or institutional remedies."
STEVE MOORE: The IRS became judge, jury and executioner in a tax-code witch hunt against Americans
"This Fox News opinion criticizes the IRS as politicized — arguing it has become a judge/jury/executioner using the tax code as a 'witch hunt' against Americans, calls for accountability and reform, and is commenting in the context of recent DOJ/IRS-related developments (matched to the Blanche/DOJ settlement reporting)."
📰 Source Timeline (67)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
August 10, 2026
8:39 PM
Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general after bruising confirmation battle
New information:
- On Monday, August 10, 2026, Todd Blanche was formally sworn in as attorney general at the White House, with former Trump attorney and current federal appeals judge Emil Bove administering the oath.
- Shortly after the ceremony, Blanche arrived at Justice Department headquarters, where employees lined the entrance and cheered as he entered to assume command.
- The article reiterates that Blanche has been leading DOJ in an acting capacity since former Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired in April 2026.
- Blanche is described as facing an agency 'hollowed out' by resignations, firings and voluntary departures and by mounting pushback from the courts.
- The piece underscores that under Blanche’s tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, DOJ has pursued investigations of several Trump opponents, including a second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey in April 2026.
6:45 PM
Blanche sworn in as attorney general, formally taking reins at DOJ
New information:
- On Monday, August 10, 2026, Todd Blanche was formally sworn in as attorney general in an Oval Office ceremony at the White House.
- Judge Emil Bove, a former Trump defense-team colleague now on the federal bench, administered the oath as President Trump looked on.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released video of the swearing-in on social media.
- The article reiterates Blanche's career path, including his prior role as deputy attorney general, his service as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi's ouster in April 2026, and earlier work as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and at law firms WilmerHale and Cadwalader.
- The piece details that Blanche joined Trump's legal team in 2023 for the New York hush-money case that led to Trump's 2024 felony convictions, before being nominated as deputy attorney general after Trump's November 2024 election win.
1:54 PM
Todd Blanche to be sworn in as attorney general
New information:
- CBS reports on August 10, 2026, that President Trump is set to swear in Todd Blanche as attorney general on Monday, August 10, 2026.
- The segment reiterates that Blanche was confirmed 'in the middle of the night on Saturday' by a single vote, aligning with earlier detailed coverage of the 50-49 Senate tally.
August 08, 2026
8:05 PM
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight
New information:
- The article reports that the Senate adjourned its summer session at 4:57 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 8, 2026, after confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- It notes that there was no procedural attempt by SAVE America Act supporters to keep the Senate in session or 'blow up' the August recess over that bill.
- It adds that the same overnight session included Senate passage of a bipartisan interim spending bill intended to prevent a government shutdown in October.
3:18 PM
Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump's attorney general in overnight vote
New information:
- PBS/AP piece reiterates that the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote early Saturday, August 8, 2026.
- The article emphasizes that Blanche is President Trump's former personal attorney and frames his confirmation as cementing Trump's effort to exert greater control over the Justice Department.
- It notes Blanche publicly celebrated the confirmation on social media, saying he was "deeply honored" by Trump's trust and "grateful" to senators for working late to confirm him.
- The report underscores that opposition to Blanche came from all Democrats plus two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, aligning with but reinforcing earlier vote-count details.
- Sen. Dick Durbin is quoted warning colleagues that confirming Blanche would be a "serious mistake" and urging them not to be on the "wrong side" of history, adding color and emphasis to Democratic resistance.
9:31 AM
Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general
New information:
- Axios reported on August 8, 2026, that the Senate had confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general, reinforcing earlier network projections of the 50-49 vote outcome.
- The article timestamp (4:31 a.m. Central on August 8, 2026) confirms the confirmation occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 8, 2026, aligning with but independently corroborating the timing already reported.
9:28 AM
Todd Blanche confirmed as attorney general
New information:
- The MS NOW article confirms the 50-49 Senate vote in the early hours of Sunday, August 8, 2026, and details that Bill Cassidy’s support was the deciding vote after a floor speech late Friday morning.
- It specifies that Susan Collins opposed Blanche over “several actions” she said eroded DOJ’s political independence, and Lisa Murkowski cited the botched Epstein file rollout and DOJ targeting of Trump’s enemies.
- The piece adds that Cassidy publicly labeled Blanche’s creation of the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund as “poor judgement” but still backed confirmation, calling Trump’s pick “not perfect.”
- It reiterates that Cornyn and Tillis conditioned their support on documentary proof that the Anti-Weaponization Fund was terminated, and notes that after Blanche delivered two documents they described as sufficient, Judiciary advanced his nomination on August 4.
- The article reports that Blanche’s rescission order did not specify that it could never be withdrawn, leaving open the possibility a future DOJ could revive the fund, and notes Trump has publicly floated that possibility.
- It adds fresh political opposition detail: Epstein survivors lobbied senators to reject the nomination over DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files and described Blanche as condescending in a long-delayed meeting where he told them to “get to the point.”
8:46 AM
Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general
New information:
- NPR confirms the Senate vote to confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general occurred early Saturday, August 8, 2026, by a 50-49 margin, with all Democrats plus Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting no.
- The article details that Sen. Bill Cassidy’s yes vote became decisive because Sen. Mitch McConnell was absent and Murkowski opposed the nomination, giving Blanche a "glidepath" to confirmation.
- Cassidy publicly cited concerns about Blanche’s role in exempting President Trump from IRS audits and about DOJ suits against the president’s perceived political enemies, but said he backed Blanche to avoid another acting attorney general under Trump.
- NPR specifies that on August 2, 2026, Blanche issued a written order stating that the Anti-Weaponization Fund "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect," which helped unlock support from GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.
- A second August 2, 2026 DOJ written statement narrowed the Trump-IRS settlement’s audit protections to apply only retroactively, and only to Donald Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization, excluding a broader group of "affiliated individuals" and companies that had been covered in earlier language.
- Cornyn publicly praised Blanche’s willingness to negotiate over the fund and argued that Trump needs an attorney general who is both a strong legal mind and close enough to the president to give confidential legal advice and "hard truths."
8:46 AM
Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump’s attorney general in overnight vote
New information:
- The Associated Press article confirms the Senate vote occurred early Saturday, August 8, 2026, and again reports the final margin as 50-49 with Blanche confirmed as attorney general.
- It reports that Sen. Bill Cassidy publicly framed his pivotal yes vote by arguing that no other nominee may be able to run the Justice Department better under President Trump and that Blanche’s role as Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer could help him push back on the president’s demands.
- The piece quotes Cassidy saying, “This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” and notes he recently lost his GOP primary to a Trump-backed challenger.
- It reiterates that Blanche’s written promises to permanently abandon the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and narrow IRS audit immunity were the key conditions that unlocked Cassidy’s support and allowed the nomination to clear the floor.
- The article emphasizes Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin’s floor warning that confirming Blanche would be a “serious mistake” and his plea that colleagues not be on the “wrong side” of history.
8:35 AM
Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general
New information:
- Early Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, formally installing him as the nation's top law enforcement official.
- Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in opposing Blanche's confirmation, while GOP Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was absent.
- Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast a decisive yes vote; with McConnell absent, Blanche could afford to lose at most two Republican votes and still be confirmed.
- This article specifies that Blanche's late-Sunday (August 2, 2026) order rescinded his May directive creating the $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund and clarifies that the tax-immunity provision now applies only to already-filed returns and covers Mr. Trump, his two oldest sons, and the Trump Organization.
- The piece notes Blanche's prior representation of Donald Trump in the New York state hush-money criminal case that produced 34 felony convictions and in two federal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
August 07, 2026
10:52 PM
Blanche on track to become attorney general after Cassidy endorsement
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, CBS News reported that Todd Blanche is now viewed as "on track" to become attorney general following Sen. Bill Cassidy's endorsement.
- CBS characterized Cassidy's endorsement as putting Blanche "one step closer" to securing the nation's top law-enforcement role.
- The segment frames the endorsement as a pivotal development in the confirmation math, indicating Blanche is likely to be confirmed.
9:13 PM
WATCH LIVE: Senate passes Graham's Russia sanctions bill, confirms dozens of nominees
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Bill Cassidy delivered a Senate floor speech confirming he will vote to approve Todd Blanche as attorney general, reiterating that his decision comes despite misgivings about President Trump’s influence over the Justice Department.
- Cassidy explicitly said his vote is "not a referendum on President Trump" but a decision about Blanche "in very specific circumstances," effectively framing confirmation as preferable to Trump selecting another nominee who might be less constrained.
- The article underscores Cassidy’s ongoing concern that the IRS settlement’s proposed $1.8 billion fund could be used for payouts to Trump supporters who participated in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, even as he concludes Blanche is still the better option.
- PBS notes Cassidy’s political context: he voted to convict Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial and subsequently lost a Republican primary earlier in 2026 after Trump endorsed his opponent, deepening the stakes around his current vote.
3:17 PM
Todd Blanche wins Cassidy support to become Trump’s attorney general
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Bill Cassidy delivered a floor speech formally stating, 'I will vote for Mr. Blanche,' confirming his support for Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- Cassidy framed his decision as a choice between Blanche and an alternative acting attorney general under President Trump, saying Blanche is 'not perfect' but preferable to another acting leader who 'may not run the department effectively.'
- The article reiterates that with GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposed and Sen. Mitch McConnell still absent after rehab, Cassidy's yes vote gives Blanche the final needed Republican vote for confirmation before the August recess.
- Cassidy noted he had spoken to Blanche multiple times before announcing his decision publicly on the Senate floor.
3:10 PM
WATCH: Sen. Cassidy says he'll vote to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Bill Cassidy formally announced on the Senate floor that he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- Cassidy characterized Blanche as "not perfect" but argued that no nominee would be and that another candidate might not be better, framing his support as a pragmatic choice.
- The article reiterates that Blanche's written order states "there is no Fund" regarding the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and confirms that the Justice Department has clarified in writing that tax-audit immunity applies only to then-open audits for Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization, not to future returns or other parties, while noting continuing Republican and Democratic concerns.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski warned on the floor that the Senate's leverage over the Anti-Weaponization Fund exists only while Blanche's nomination is pending and said she fears the administration could revive the fund after confirmation.
2:57 PM
Cassidy to support Blanche for attorney general
New information:
- Article published Friday, August 7, 2026, reiterates that Sen. Bill Cassidy has decided to back Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, a move that makes Blanche's narrow confirmation likely despite GOP defections.
- It reaffirms that Cassidy’s support comes after Blanche formally rescinded the roughly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and clarified limits on President Trump’s IRS audit immunity, steps aimed at winning over remaining Republican holdouts.
2:54 PM
Cassidy backs Blanche for attorney general, clearing way for confirmation
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Bill Cassidy announced on the Senate floor that he will support Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
- Cassidy framed his decision as a choice between Blanche and an alternative acting attorney general who might not run the department as effectively under President Trump.
- With Cassidy’s backing, and GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposing, Blanche is now expected to win confirmation by a narrow margin despite Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s absence.
- The Senate plans to take up multiple GOP priorities on Friday, August 7, before a five-week recess, but it is not yet clear whether Blanche’s confirmation vote will occur that day because expediting consideration would require Democratic consent.
2:20 PM
Lisa Murkowski says she will oppose Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination
New information:
- CBS News aired a segment on Friday, August 7, 2026, in which Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski publicly stated she will oppose Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general.
- The CBS piece frames Murkowski's decision explicitly as opposing Blanche's attorney general nomination, reinforcing her stance as a firm 'no' vote rather than simply expressing concerns.
2:12 PM
Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, narrowing his path to confirmation
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Lisa Murkowski posted on X that she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, explicitly citing concerns over "sweeping immunity protections" for the president and what she called politicization and possible weaponization of DOJ.
- Murkowski said she believes the nearly $2 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund is only off the table because Blanche’s nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage, warning that "once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds."
- The article confirms that Blanche formally rescinded the Anti-Weaponization Fund on August 2, 2026, after earlier written assurances to Congress that it was scrapped.
- NPR reports that with Mitch McConnell absent, Murkowski and Susan Collins publicly opposed, and all Democrats expected to vote no, Blanche "can’t lose any more GOP votes," making Sen. Bill Cassidy’s stance pivotal.
- The piece details Blanche’s recent efforts to shore up Republican support, including trips to Capitol Hill and a visit to Alaska to meet local and tribal leaders.
2:01 PM
Blanche's attorney general confirmation is in doubt as GOP Sen. Murkowski opposes his nomination
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Lisa Murkowski publicly said she will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, explicitly citing DOJ handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, Trump’s sweeping IRS audit immunity deal, and the proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- The article reiterates that with Sen. Mitch McConnell absent, Blanche can lose only two Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him, and notes Sen. Bill Cassidy has not yet announced how he will vote.
- Murkowski warned that Senate leverage over blocking the Anti-Weaponization Fund exists only while Blanche’s nomination is pending, saying that once a vote occurs "there is no telling what the future holds."
- The piece restates details of the Cornyn–Tillis deal under which Blanche, as acting attorney general, issued a formal order rescinding the Anti-Weaponization Fund and DOJ clarified in writing that Trump’s tax-audit immunity applies only to claims open at the time of the settlement and only to the lawsuit’s named parties.
- The article adds that on Thursday, August 6, 2026, the IRS workers’ union asked a federal judge to block the Trump tax-audit immunity agreement tied to the settlement.
1:23 PM
Murkowski Will Oppose Blanche as Attorney General, Putting His Confirmation at Risk
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a public statement formally declaring she will oppose Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general.
- Murkowski said she was concerned about the 'politicization' of the Justice Department and that Blanche would 'fail to check the worst impulses of this administration.'
- She explicitly cited DOJ's handling of the release of the Epstein files under Blanche and the IRS settlement that created a proposed $1.8 billion Jan. 6 compensation fund as reasons for her opposition.
- The article reiterates that with Democrats uniformly opposed and Sen. Susan Collins already a no vote, Blanche likely cannot afford any additional Republican defections and still be confirmed.
11:22 AM
Murkowski says she'll vote against Blanche's nomination for attorney general,
New information:
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
- Murkowski said she is concerned the Trump administration could still move forward with the proposed Jan. 6 compensation fund despite Blanche’s written order terminating it, and she views Blanche’s pending nomination as the Senate’s leverage to block the fund.
- With a 53-47 GOP Senate majority and Sen. Mitch McConnell absent, Blanche can lose only two Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him; Sen. Susan Collins has already said she will vote no, and Sen. Bill Cassidy remains undecided.
- The article reiterates that Blanche’s 12-10 Judiciary Committee approval relied on written assurances to GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis that the $1.8 billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ payout fund would not move forward.
- CBS notes that even if Blanche is not confirmed, he can continue serving indefinitely as acting attorney general.
August 06, 2026
9:28 PM
First legal challenge to Trump’s IRS immunity deal filed
New information:
- On Thursday, August 6, 2026, plaintiffs in a leading Anti-Weaponization Fund lawsuit filed an amended complaint that for the first time directly challenges President Trump’s IRS immunity agreement as illegal.
- The amended complaint adds the National Treasury Employees Union as a plaintiff to bolster standing, arguing the immunity order will force IRS auditors either to violate their oaths and risk criminal liability or refuse and risk retaliation.
- The suit alleges the immunity provision grants Trump an unconstitutional emolument and violates a federal statute that bars the president from directing the IRS to end audits of specific taxpayers, including himself.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s Sunday, August 2, 2026 document narrowing the immunity deal to the named parties in Trump’s IRS lawsuit is unsigned; the complaint argues it “carries no more weight than a press release” and that DOJ has issued no new signed order.
- Plaintiffs contend Blanche’s order declaring the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund “dead” contains loopholes and present‑tense wording that do not swear, under penalty of perjury, that the fund will not proceed under another name now or in the future.
- U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema had in June asked DOJ for a sworn declaration that the fund would “not proceed in any manner, or under any name,” a request DOJ still has not met, according to the complaint.
8:19 PM
Union Representing IRS Workers Sues Over Trump’s Deal Granting Sweeping Tax Protections
New information:
- On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the National Treasury Employees Union joined ongoing litigation in federal court in Alexandria, Va., filing a revised complaint that directly challenges the IRS settlement provisions granting sweeping tax protections to President Trump, the Trump Organization and two of his sons.
- The revised lawsuit asks Judge Leonie M. Brinkema to block enforcement of the settlement’s audit protections, which bar audits of already-filed tax returns by those Trump-related entities.
- This is the first court action explicitly seeking to invalidate the settlement’s extraordinary tax protections, going beyond the earlier suit that focused on the roughly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- The earlier plaintiffs had already won a June 2026 ruling from Judge Brinkema barring the Anti-Weaponization Fund from moving forward, after she found it could still be enacted despite Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s assurances that it was dead.
- Democracy Forward, on behalf of the IRS employees’ union, argues the protections are unlawful and would place IRS workers in an untenable position of choosing between obeying the settlement and following federal tax law.
August 04, 2026
10:07 PM
On Blanche vote, Cornyn and Tillis say their holdout was about principle
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis publicly framed their earlier hold on Todd Blanche's nomination as based on the 'merits' of the Anti-Weaponization Fund arrangement, rejecting the 'YOLO caucus' label tied to their lame-duck status.
- Cornyn told reporters that his stand was 'not about payback' and that securing written assurances ending the $1.8 billion fund and narrowing Trump's IRS audit immunity was 'the best we could do in these circumstances.'
- The article reports that the administration's written statement declares the Anti-Weaponization Fund 'permanently dead' and specifies that President Trump's IRS audit immunity applies only retroactively to past audits.
- Sen. Thom Tillis used the August 4 Judiciary Committee meeting to argue he and Cornyn were holding 'our own conference to a higher standard' and said this is what 'the American people want more of.'
- President Trump has continued to praise the Anti-Weaponization Fund and claimed Cornyn 'never had a problem with the fund until he was primaried,' while Cornyn disputes that his stance was personal or election-related.
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville told the Monitor 'It's all about getting reelected up here' and said he supports the Anti-Weaponization Fund, while about a dozen other GOP senators declined to comment on the deal.
9:39 PM
Susan Collins opposes Todd Blanche for attorney general
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in a written statement she will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general.
- Collins cited what she called the Department of Justice becoming "increasingly political" and said Blanche has taken actions that have "further eroded the Department's independence" as the basis for her opposition.
- Axios reports that with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell still absent, Blanche can afford to lose only two Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him.
- Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who had previously expressed concerns, announced on X on August 4 that he will support Blanche after discussions and said he was pleased with Blanche's responsiveness.
- Axios identifies Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) as the remaining publicly undecided Republicans on the nomination.
- The article notes that Collins is the only Republican senator seeking reelection in a state Trump lost and outlines several prior high-profile breaks she has made with Trump during his second term.
3:14 PM
Todd Blanche Clears Committee Vote, Paving Way for Attorney General Confirmation
New information:
- Article published Tuesday, August 4, 2026, reports that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Todd Blanche's nomination and formally send it to the full Senate for confirmation.
- The piece characterizes the committee vote as the last major procedural hurdle before a floor confirmation vote, describing Blanche as now likely to be confirmed absent an unexpected floor revolt.
- Coverage underscores that Blanche's written rescission of the Anti-Weaponization Fund and his clarification of the IRS settlement language were decisive in securing enough Republican support on the panel.
3:05 PM
Senate Judiciary Committee approves Blanche’s nomination for attorney general
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination on a strictly party-line vote, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no.
- The article reiterates that Blanche issued a formal order on Sunday, August 2, 2026 terminating the roughly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, and notes Cornyn and Tillis deemed that step sufficient to support his nomination despite the order’s scope falling short of their earlier written demands.
- Sen. Dick Durbin used his August 4, 2026 committee remarks to accuse Blanche of lying under oath about telling him in a prior private conversation that setting up the Anti-Weaponization Fund had been a mistake.
- Durbin characterized Blanche as continuing to act as President Trump’s personal lawyer and said Blanche had treated the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client, the president.
- The article adds detail that Cornyn and Tillis’ misgivings centered on DOJ’s handling of the Trump-IRS settlement, including its grant of tax audit immunity to Trump and his family and the initial inclusion of the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- New context is provided on Blanche’s meeting with Jeffrey Epstein survivors after his July confirmation hearing, including survivor Dani Bensky’s allegation that Blanche was condescending, told them he was powerless to open investigations, and told them to "get to the point."
- The piece confirms that Blanche’s nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority.
3:04 PM
Senate Judiciary Committee advances Blanche's nomination for attorney general
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general to the full Senate.
- The article specifies that Blanche's late-Sunday order rescinding the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund also clarified that the IRS audit-immunity provision applies only to past tax years and only to Donald Trump, his two oldest sons, and the Trump Organization.
- Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley said during the hearing that the Justice Department has 'thrived' under Blanche's acting leadership and framed his vote as being 'for the safety of the American people.'
- Sen. Dick Durbin stated in the committee that Blanche 'has no business' leading DOJ, alleging he has been firing longtime officials and replacing them with 'unqualified MAGA loyalists' and questioning Blanche's credibility under oath.
1:00 PM
WATCH LIVE: Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Blanche nomination for attorney general
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. EDT to vote on advancing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department.
- PBS reports Blanche’s late-Sunday order states 'beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund' and specifies that since the IRS settlement was announced, no members were appointed, no funds transferred, no claims process created and no claims paid.
- The Justice Department’s written clarification says the tax-audit immunity in Trump’s IRS settlement applies only to audits that were open at the time of the settlement, does not cover future tax filings, and is limited to Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization.
- Democrats now argue Blanche’s order does not go far enough to prevent a future revival of the Anti-Weaponization Fund and are calling for legislation to permanently bar such a fund.
- The article reiterates that the settlement resolved Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns, which critics note involved the president suing an agency within his own executive branch.
August 03, 2026
11:52 PM
Justice Dept. moves to dismiss Jan. 6 class action lawsuit
New information:
- On Monday, August 3, 2026, the Justice Department moved to dismiss a Jan. 6 defendants' class action under the Federal Tort Claims Act, arguing all claims are time-barred because the alleged injuries occurred on January 6, 2021 and FTCA requires filing within two years.
- DOJ's filing says the named plaintiffs' earliest administrative claim was dated July 29, 2025, well past the January 6, 2023 FTCA deadline, and notes many submitted forms were only partially completed or lacked signatures and supporting documentation.
- The same article reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's late-Sunday order rescinding the $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund does not contain language barring government restitution or payouts to convicted Jan. 6 rioters.
- A former Justice Department lawyer quoted in the report says Blanche's unilateral rescission order has no legal effect and does not prevent the fund from being revived in the future.
10:55 PM
Blanche wins support from GOP holdouts after vowing to scrap 'anti-weaponization fund'
New information:
- On or just before Monday, August 3, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche provided a written commitment that the DOJ is scrapping a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund that could have paid settlements to Trump allies, including some Jan. 6 defendants.
- PBS frames the Blanche-Cornyn-Tillis deal as a major hurdle cleared for Blanche's push to be confirmed as permanent attorney general, emphasizing that the written rescission was the key to unlocking support from the two GOP holdouts.
- The segment reiterates that the fund, if left in place, might have provided settlement money to Trump allies swept up in investigations, specifically including January 6 rioters, sharpening public understanding of who could have benefited.
10:48 PM
Cornyn and Tillis say they'll support Blanche for AG after rescinding "anti-weaponization fund"
New information:
- On Monday, August 3, 2026, CBS reported that Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis said they will support Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination after he rescinded President Trump's so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- CBS framed Blanche as being 'one step closer' to becoming permanent attorney general following the rescission and the two GOP senators' public backing.
- The segment reinforced that Blanche's written move to rescind the fund was the key condition for Cornyn and Tillis to announce their support.
7:07 PM
How Cornyn and Tillis’ deal on Todd Blanche falls short of their demands
New information:
- Late Sunday, August 2, 2026, Todd Blanche posted two documents: a signed order rescinding the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund and an unsigned memo narrowing his interpretation of IRS audit immunity.
- The signed order rescinds the fund in a single sentence but does not state the rescission is permanent, and the underlying settlement agreement that created the fund remains in effect and can only be modified with written consent of all parties (Trump, his two eldest sons, the Trump Organization, and the IRS).
- The unsigned audit-immunity memo is not a formal order and merely states Blanche’s view that the immunity is retroactive and limited to the named parties in the January lawsuit, meaning it does not itself amend the settlement’s binding terms.
- President Trump told reporters on Monday, August 3, 2026, that he had not personally signed off on Blanche’s deal and characterized the changes as Blanche merely reconfirming things he had already said.
- Sen. Adam Schiff and other Democrats publicly argued the deal would still allow future payouts from revived or alternative funds and could enable Trump to avoid taxes on an estimated $2.3 billion in 2025 income, underscoring ongoing partisan dispute over the settlement’s impact.
4:54 PM
Blanche issues order rescinding Trump's "anti-weaponization fund"
New information:
- CBS reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued his written order formally rescinding the roughly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
- The segment notes that Blanche remains acting attorney general and that rescinding the fund is viewed as a move that could help secure his Senate confirmation as permanent attorney general after two Republican senators raised concerns.
- The article frames the order as a response to objections raised "last week" by two GOP senators, underscoring how their public stance shaped Blanche's decision and the timing.
3:46 PM
Cornyn, Tillis say they'll vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general after he rescinded fund
New information:
- On Monday, August 3, 2026, Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis said they will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- Their announcement followed Blanche's late-Sunday, August 2, 2026, rescission of the 'anti-weaponization fund.'
- CBS framed the senators' statements explicitly as contingent on and responsive to Blanche's formal rescission order.
3:00 PM
Cornyn, Tillis back Blanche for attorney general after deal on DOJ fund
New information:
- On Monday, August 3, 2026, Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis issued a joint public statement formally announcing their support for Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination.
- Cornyn and Tillis said the Department of Justice had issued a "formal order" that both terminates the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and expressly limits the IRS audit settlement's protections to the named plaintiffs, the IRS and the Treasury.
- Their statement specifies that they required a binding written order "constraining the scope of audit protection by limiting it to the parties of the Settlement Agreement and legally ending the anti-weaponization fund."
- The article details that President Trump, over the preceding weekend (August 1–2, 2026), warned GOP holdouts he would leave Blanche as acting attorney general and move to implement the fund if the blockade continued.
- The piece notes Cornyn and Tillis are leaving the Senate early next year and frames their support as clearing sufficient backing for the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Blanche's nomination at its Tuesday, August 4, 2026 meeting.
2:58 PM
Cornyn, Tillis throw their support behind Blanche for attorney general
New information:
- On Monday morning, August 3, 2026, Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis publicly announced they will support acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination.
- Their announcement came just hours after Blanche issued his formal order terminating the nearly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and clarifying the scope of the DOJ–IRS audit agreement.
- Cornyn and Tillis said in a joint statement they were "pleased" with Blanche’s order, thanked him and his staff for working with them, and said they "look forward to voting to advance his nomination" out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The article reports that their support "all but" or "virtually" assures Blanche’s confirmation, since they had been the key Republican holdouts on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- It adds timeline detail that Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley postponed a scheduled committee vote the previous Thursday, July 30, 2026, due to their opposition, and that Blanche and Cornyn held a closed-door meeting that day to negotiate conditions for support.
- The piece notes that Trump publicly defended the Anti-Weaponization Fund last week and threatened to withdraw Blanche’s nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January, but he has not yet commented on their August 3 support.
2:45 PM
Todd Blanche rescinds "anti-weaponization fund" ahead of possible Senate confirmation
New information:
- CBS segment airing at 9:45 a.m. Central on August 3, 2026 reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has rescinded the roughly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" ahead of his possible Senate confirmation.
- The piece frames the rescission explicitly as a move taken "ahead of" Blanche’s potential confirmation vote, underscoring the timing link between the DOJ order and Senate consideration of his nomination.
1:42 PM
Blanche rescinds 'anti-weaponization fund' for Trump allies after GOP senators threaten to block his AG bid
New information:
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's written rescission order was issued late Sunday, August 2, 2026, formally terminating President Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
- The DOJ order explicitly states that no members were appointed, no funds were transferred, no claims process was created, and no claims were paid under the fund, and says it establishes 'beyond any doubt' that there is no fund.
- The same document narrows the earlier tax-audit immunity provision by clarifying that it applies only retroactively to IRS claims that were open at the time of the settlement and does not cover future Trump tax filings.
- A spokeswoman for Sen. John Cornyn confirmed on Monday, August 3, 2026 that an agreement had been reached with the administration following weeks of negotiations over the fund and audit immunity.
- The article notes that Sen. Thom Tillis, the other GOP holdout on the Judiciary Committee, had not immediately commented on the new order as of Monday morning.
- The rescission and clarification come ahead of a Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation vote on Blanche's nomination to be attorney general, which had been postponed the prior Thursday while talks continued.
- The article reiterates that Blanche had previously pledged at a June 2026 hearing that DOJ would not move forward with the fund but that Cornyn and Tillis insisted on a binding written order as a condition for their support.
12:00 PM
Blanche and Trump pitch wildly different messages on the fate of the ‘slush fund’
New information:
- The article underscores that Blanche's late-Sunday, August 2, 2026 order rescinding the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund was driven specifically by negotiations with Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had been blocking his confirmation.
- It highlights an explicit tension between Blanche's formal rescission and President Trump's continued public insistence, including on Saturday, August 1, 2026, that he still wants an 'Anti-Weaponization Bill' to recreate a fund to compensate allies, including Jan. 6 rioters.
- The piece raises a concrete procedural question about whether Blanche's rescission order is binding or could be reversed later by a new DOJ directive from Trump or a future attorney general.
- It notes that other Republican senators beyond Cornyn and Tillis have not yet publicly committed to supporting Blanche, leaving uncertainty about his path through the Judiciary Committee and full Senate despite the rescission document.
- Blanche's order is characterized as converting weeks of verbal assurances that the fund was dead into a written directive, framed by DOJ as officially rescinding the May 18, 2026 order establishing the fund.
11:57 AM
Todd Blanche rescinds 'anti-weaponization fund'. And, Trump calls off striking Iran
New information:
- NPR reports that Todd Blanche’s rescission letter, released Sunday night, August 2, 2026, did not address the settlement provision protecting Donald Trump and his family from future IRS audits.
- The article notes that, despite the rescission, it remains unclear whether Blanche has enough Republican votes on the Senate floor given the GOP’s slim majority and potential dissenters.
- NPR frames Blanche’s written order as removing a major hurdle in the Judiciary Committee but emphasizes that multiple questions about the underlying IRS settlement remain unanswered.
5:18 AM
Blanche Gives G.O.P. Senators Written Assurances on Trump’s I.R.S. Deal
New information:
- The New York Times reports that Todd Blanche gave Republican senators written assurances detailing his order rescinding the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and clarifying limits on Trump’s tax-audit immunity.
- The article emphasizes that Blanche’s written assurances were tailored specifically to address concerns raised by Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis ahead of his confirmation vote.
- The piece underscores that the assurances and order are meant to bind future DOJ leadership by making the fund’s rescission and immunity limits part of the formal settlement record.
5:04 AM
Todd Blanche rescinds Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' ahead of nomination hearing
New information:
- NPR reports that Blanche's late-Sunday, August 2, 2026 order terminates a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund,' describing it as compensating Trump's political allies and tying it explicitly to weeks of negotiations with GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.
- The article says the rescission came just ahead of a Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation vote on Blanche's attorney general nomination.
- NPR quotes DOJ's accompanying statement that the August 2 order 'officially rescinds' the May 18, 2026 order and that no members were appointed, no funds transferred, no claims process created and no claims paid, concluding, 'This order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.'
- The piece confirms the revised settlement language clarifies Trump tax-audit immunity 'applies only retroactively' to audits open at the time of settlement and does not shield future tax filings.
- Cornyn's spokeswoman confirms a deal with Blanche and the Justice Department resolving his concerns, while noting Tillis had not yet commented as of the article's publication.
- Cornyn is quoted saying he and DOJ were 'pretty much on the same page' until President Trump objected, indicating White House resistance had been a separate obstacle to the negotiated fix.
3:48 AM
Blanche rescinds fund for Trump supporters after GOP senators threaten to block his AG bid
New information:
- On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal DOJ order terminating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund intended to compensate his political allies.
- The order explicitly states it “officially rescinds” the May 18, 2026 directive that created the fund, converting earlier verbal assurances into binding written rescission.
- Blanche’s document newly clarifies that the tax-audit immunity provision in the Trump IRS settlement applies only retroactively to tax claims that were open at the time of the settlement, and does not cover examinations of future Trump or family filings.
- A spokeswoman for Sen. John Cornyn confirmed late August 2 that an agreement had been reached resolving his concerns; Sen. Thom Tillis had not yet commented.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche’s attorney general nomination on Tuesday following weeks of negotiations over the fund and audit immunity.
- Earlier on August 2, President Trump publicly defended the concept of the fund, saying Jan. 6 defendants had “their lives destroyed” and describing the fund as reimbursement for their suffering.
3:44 AM
Acting attorney general issues order rescinding "anti-weaponization fund"
New information:
- On Sunday evening, August 2, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal written order rescinding the Anti-Weaponization Fund created in a May 18, 2026 DOJ order.
- Blanche's order states that the May 18, 2026 Anti-Weaponization Fund order "is rescinded and shall have no force or effect" and declares "beyond any doubt" that there is no fund.
- The order confirms DOJ's prior representations that the fund was never operative: no members were appointed, no funds were transferred, no claims process was created, and no claims were paid.
- Blanche cites "several frivolous lawsuits" challenging the fund and notes that at least one court has refused to dismiss those suits as moot, using that as a rationale for issuing a formal rescission.
- The CBS report ties the timing of the rescission directly to Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn's refusal to support Blanche's confirmation as attorney general unless the anti-weaponization fund is explicitly abandoned in writing.
- The article reiterates that the Anti-Weaponization Fund was announced in May 2026 as part of a settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury, and was designed to compensate people claiming political persecution.
August 02, 2026
8:24 PM
‘Wouldn’t bet my house on it’: GOP senator doubts Blanche confirmation
New information:
- On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Sen. John Kennedy told NBC's 'Meet the Press' he 'wouldn't bet my house' on Todd Blanche being confirmed as attorney general and rated Blanche's chances only a 'maybe' even if betting someone else's house.
- Kennedy said he is unsure a deal can be reached between President Trump and GOP holdouts Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis over the Anti-Weaponization Fund and the scope of Trump's IRS audit immunity.
- The article reiterates that Cornyn and Tillis are withholding support unless the administration provides proof that the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund has been formally killed and significantly narrows the DOJ-brokered IRS non-investigation agreement covering Trump, his family and his businesses.
- Sen. Susan Collins has also voiced reservations about both the fund and Trump's immunity from IRS audits, adding to the list of GOP senators expressing concerns.
- Kennedy said he would not rule out supporting Trump's floated legislation to make the fund statutory but added that any January 6 rioters who attacked the Capitol and police should be excluded from receiving payouts.
- The story confirms that Blanche met privately with Cornyn on Thursday, July 30, 2026; Cornyn described the meeting to MS NOW on Friday as 'constructive' but said 'we are not there yet' on support.
- The piece notes again that the Judiciary Committee vote, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and says it is unclear if the panel will actually meet given the continued standoff.
- The article restates that President Trump has publicly floated withdrawing Blanche's nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January, highlighting that Cornyn lost his GOP primary in May and Tillis has chosen not to run for re-election.
August 01, 2026
4:15 PM
Trump's threat to push ahead on settlement fund injects new uncertainty into attorney general talks
New information:
- On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social that if Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis do not back Todd Blanche for attorney general, he will keep Blanche as acting AG and "push hard" to restore the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- Trump’s Saturday post came less than a day after he had publicly declared the $1.8 billion fund "dead" during negotiations with Senate Republicans.
- Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley rescheduled the committee vote on Blanche’s nomination for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to give the White House more time to secure votes before the August recess.
- Tillis responded on X that Trump "clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot" and said it is "unfortunate" because Blanche, whom he considers qualified, "will not be confirmed because of this reversal."
- The article reiterates that Cornyn and Tillis oppose Blanche’s nomination because the original DOJ lawsuit settlement both created the $1.8 billion fund and granted Trump and his family immunity from tax audits.
3:59 PM
Trump escalates feud with GOP senators over Todd Blanche nomination
New information:
- On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Trump again threatened on Truth Social to revive an Anti-Weaponization Fund through legislation if Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn continue to oppose Todd Blanche's confirmation.
- Sen. Thom Tillis responded on X the same day, saying Trump 'clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks' and warning he might do so either by creating another fund or pushing a bill most Senate Republicans would oppose.
- The article notes that as of August 1, 2026, no member of Congress has introduced legislation to create such a compensation fund for people claiming unfair federal prosecution.
- The piece reiterates that the fund was initially part of a settlement of Trump's IRS lawsuit, has been criticized by lawmakers in both parties as a taxpayer slush fund, and that DOJ has resisted putting in writing that it is permanently dead.
- The story reports Tillis now publicly says it is 'unfortunate' because he considers Blanche qualified but believes Blanche 'will not be confirmed because of this reversal,' while still expressing hope the dispute can be resolved by the Judiciary Committee's scheduled August 4 vote.
12:11 PM
Trump will push for anti-weaponization fund if Blanche not confirmed, he says
New information:
- On Saturday, August 1, 2026, President Trump posted on Truth Social that if Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis do not support Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general, he will keep Blanche as acting AG and "push hard" to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill passed.
- Trump said the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, previously described as off the table, would be "immediately" back on the table if Cornyn and Tillis continue to oppose Blanche.
- At Blanche's confirmation hearing earlier in July, Blanche testified that the anti-weaponization fund was "dead" and that no money had ever moved from the Treasury into any such account.
- The article reiterates that Cornyn has stressed the underlying IRS/Treasury settlement requires any modification to be in writing and asked Blanche whether a written modification exists; Blanche answered that there has been no modification and that the fund "never started."
- Following the new standoff, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it will hold a vote on Blanche's nomination on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Central, with Chair Chuck Grassley saying he wants Blanche confirmed before the August recess and that the extra time allows the White House to secure votes.
July 31, 2026
4:08 PM
Trump bets GOP senators will cave on Todd Blanche
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, a planned Senate Judiciary Committee vote was postponed after a Thursday meeting between Sen. John Cornyn and Todd Blanche ended without a written agreement changing the settlement terms.
- Cornyn told MS NOW on July 30 that his meeting with Blanche was "constructive" but that "we are not there yet" and said a committee vote next week is still possible.
- In a Truth Social post on Thursday, July 30, 2026, President Trump publicly threatened to withhold Blanche's formal nomination until "after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office."
- Sen. Thom Tillis told MS NOW he believes someone "above" Blanche in the administration is blocking a deal, said Blanche is negotiating in good faith, and insisted he does not think the president is the person stalling approval.
- Sen. John Kennedy said on July 30 that Cornyn and Tillis "don't bluff," underscoring that their threat to hold up the nomination is real.
- The article notes that even if the stalemate continues, Blanche remains acting attorney general and can, under current arrangements, serve in that role indefinitely while the nomination is stalled.
2:30 PM
Trump may pull Blanche attorney general nomination for now as key Republicans withhold support
New information:
- On Friday, July 31, 2026, CBS reported that President Trump is considering withdrawing Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination 'until next year' because Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis continue to withhold support.
- The CBS segment says Cornyn and Tillis are threatening to block Blanche unless Trump and the Justice Department formally terminate the controversial 'anti-weaponization' fund.
12:14 AM
WATCH: GOP holdout rejects Trump threat as AG nominee standoff explodes
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Sen. Thom Tillis publicly responded to President Trump’s Truth Social threat to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination, saying, "That’s his prerogative" and insisting negotiations continue.
- Tillis reiterated he is withholding support unless the administration permanently eliminates the nearly $2 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and rewrites Trump’s audit-immunity language in the IRS settlement agreement.
- Tillis said he believes Blanche "was honest" in his confirmation hearing and blamed an unnamed presidential adviser involved in the settlement for the current impasse, saying that adviser "is the problem" and "needs to own it."
- Tillis argued that even if Trump waits to resubmit the nomination next year, there is no reason to think the Senate will be more supportive, noting Republicans will have more seats at risk.
- The article confirms Trump publicly threatened on July 30 to pull Blanche’s nomination until Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn leave office next year, while potentially keeping Blanche as acting attorney general under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
July 30, 2026
11:46 PM
Trump suggests he may pause Blanche's confirmation amid GOP pushback
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, CBS reported that President Trump suggested he may "press pause" on Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination amid GOP senators' refusal to back him.
- The CBS segment reiterates that Blanche's confirmation is currently on hold because some Republican senators are not willing to vote for him, and frames Trump's response as a possible tactical pause rather than immediate withdrawal.
10:45 PM
Trump says he might pull Todd Blanche's AG nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, President Trump publicly said he might temporarily pull Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination until Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office.
- Trump framed the potential withdrawal as a response to continued opposition from Cornyn and Tillis over the DOJ settlement and Anti-Weaponization Fund issues.
- CBS characterized Trump's comments as a threat to put the nomination on hold rather than abandon Blanche, implying Blanche could continue serving in an acting capacity.
10:26 PM
Todd Blanche and John Cornyn meet as confirmation standoff enters new phase
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Todd Blanche and Sen. John Cornyn held a closed-door meeting to discuss conditions for Cornyn’s support.
- The Justice Department sent Cornyn revised written language Thursday morning on narrowing the Trump–IRS audit-immunity agreement, but Cornyn said it was still insufficient.
- Punchbowl News reported Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis were described as “very near a resolution” after the meeting, but Cornyn left the Capitol Thursday night without a deal.
- Because the Senate left town Thursday night and will not return until Tuesday, the earliest a Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche can occur is Tuesday, and further floor action would still require additional procedural steps and a waiting period.
- Friday, July 31, 2026, is scheduled as the last Senate session day before the August recess, making it unlikely the nomination can be confirmed before the break absent an extension ordered by Majority Leader John Thune.
- The article reiterates Trump’s public suggestion that he might withdraw Blanche’s nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January and underscores that both GOP senators are already set to depart the chamber.
- Sen. John Cornyn posted that concerns over the Anti-Weaponization Fund and the IRS settlement extend beyond himself and Tillis, and Sen. Susan Collins is cited as another Republican with similar reservations.
- MS NOW sources note that Trump and his administration have thus far refused to provide the written assurances on killing the fund and tightening audit immunity that Cornyn and Tillis are demanding.
5:48 PM
Trump says he may pull Blanche nomination for attorney general until Cornyn and Tillis leave office
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, President Trump told CBS News he may pull Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination until Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office.
- The CBS segment frames Trump's comment as a current, on-camera statement, reinforcing that he is actively considering withdrawal rather than treating it as a past or hypothetical remark.
- The piece confirms the quote aired in a discrete CBS News video package time-stamped 12:48 p.m. Central on July 30, 2026.
4:42 PM
As Blanche struggles, Trump opens the door to ‘temporarily withdrawing’ his nomination
New information:
- On the morning of Thursday, July 30, 2026, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans canceled a planned committee vote on Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination after White House 'higher-ups' intervened, according to Sen. John Cornyn.
- Cornyn said on July 30, 2026, that he believed he and administration officials were close to resolving his concerns over the Trump IRS settlement and the anti-weaponization fund before the vote was pulled.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who is also retiring at the end of 2026, publicly suggested on July 30 that he might oppose Blanche's nomination as well, adding to GOP resistance on the Judiciary Committee.
- President Trump posted a Truth Social statement on July 30, 2026, saying he has 'no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name' if Cornyn and Tillis do not 'do the right thing,' and that Blanche would 'remain, in any event, as Acting' attorney general.
- The article notes ongoing legal questions about whether Blanche can continue to serve indefinitely as acting attorney general if his Senate nomination is withdrawn and later resubmitted.
- The piece underscores that the White House has thus far declined to provide the written assurances on the IRS settlement and anti-weaponization fund that Cornyn and Tillis are demanding, with Cornyn remarking, 'This doesn't need to be this hard.'
4:30 PM
Trump says he 'may' pull Blanche AG nomination temporarily
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Trump said he is willing to temporarily withdraw Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination but keep him on as acting attorney general and then re-nominate him after Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office in January.
- Trump’s post explicitly claims that Cornyn’s and Tillis’s "political careers have been ended" by his actions and ties their departures to his opposition to them.
- This article reiterates that Cornyn and Tillis are withholding support over the DOJ settlement of Trump’s IRS lawsuit, focusing on objections to the nearly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and a broad tax-audit immunity deal for Trump, his family and businesses.
- NPR adds that Blanche has said the Anti-Weaponization Fund is not moving forward, but Cornyn and Tillis say DOJ has refused to provide the written guarantees they seek on both the fund’s demise and the scope of audit immunity.
- NPR reports Sen. Cornyn responded to Trump’s Truth Social post by writing that the president is "mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis," indicating broader GOP unease.
- The piece notes that Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley postponed a planned July 29-30 committee vote on Blanche’s nomination as work continues to secure sufficient support.
- NPR underscores that Blanche’s nomination is contentious beyond Cornyn and Tillis, citing questions about his handling of Epstein files, targeting of Trump’s political foes, and broader politicization of DOJ.
- The article highlights that Tillis has also criticized Blanche over the Jeffrey Epstein matter in addition to the IRS settlement, broadening the stated grounds for his opposition.
- NPR points out that Trump’s plan to re-nominate Blanche after Cornyn and Tillis leave would be much harder to execute if Democrats win control of the Senate in November 2026.
4:14 PM
Trump says he may pull Blanche's nomination until 2 Senate critics leave office
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, President Trump said on Truth Social he has "no objection" to temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination and resubmitting it after Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office in January.
- Trump claimed his refusal to endorse Cornyn and Tillis has "ended" their political careers and said Blanche would remain acting attorney general even if the nomination is pulled.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee had been scheduled to vote on Blanche's nomination on Thursday, July 30, 2026, but announced late Wednesday that the vote was delayed.
- Sen. Cornyn said Thursday he received an updated written offer from the Justice Department on Wednesday night regarding the anti-weaponization fund and sent back a counterproposal, but said he is getting pushback from "higher ups" at the White House.
- Cornyn wants Blanche to put in writing his testimony that the DOJ "anti-weaponization fund" is "dead" and says Blanche has resisted committing that language in writing.
- Sen. Tillis said he remains a holdout but is more optimistic about reaching a resolution, and also believes someone at the White House is holding up an agreement.
12:35 PM
Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general stalled by 2 Republican holdouts
New information:
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, CBS reported that a Senate vote to advance Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination was postponed after two key Republican senators threatened to vote against him.
- The CBS segment frames the delay specifically as a response to these two Republican holdouts, emphasizing their leverage over the advancement of the nomination.
12:15 PM
Why vote for Todd Blanche as attorney general is on hold
New information:
- CBS reports on July 30, 2026, that two Republicans are now openly threatening to vote against President Trump's attorney general pick Todd Blanche, putting his nomination at risk in committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its Thursday, July 30, 2026, vote on Blanche's nomination in light of those Republican defections.
- CBS frames the math explicitly: if both GOP senators on the committee vote no, Blanche could lack the votes to be favorably reported out of committee.
9:00 AM
The GOP revolt over Todd Blanche is suddenly very real
New information:
- Late Wednesday night, July 29, 2026, Chairman Chuck Grassley formally postponed the Thursday, July 30 Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Todd Blanche's nomination after it became clear Republicans lacked the votes.
- Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, both retiring at the end of the year, continued to withhold support after trading draft settlement language with DOJ on Wednesday, saying the administration has not yet agreed to kill the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund in writing or narrow the IRS audit immunity.
- The article lays out that, given the Senate schedule and August recess, any new committee vote next week would leave at best a narrow window for a floor cloture vote on Friday, July 31, 2026, meaning Blanche could easily slip to September or fail altogether.
- Sen. Susan Collins said on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, that she still has questions and is waiting to see the outcome of the anti-weaponization fund and IRS settlement hearing, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski declined to state a position, highlighting continued uncertainty on the floor.
- The piece notes Blanche can remain acting Attorney General indefinitely, but frames a failure to confirm him as a significant blow to President Trump's influence over Senate Republicans.
5:56 AM
Senate panel delays vote on Blanche's nomination as key Republicans withhold support
New information:
- On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee officially postponed a July 30 committee vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination and said the delay would last while it works to 'secure sufficient support.'
- The article newly identifies Sen. Thom Tillis, alongside Sen. John Cornyn, as a key Republican holdout whose objections could block Blanche’s nomination in committee.
- NPR reports that hours of July 29 negotiations between DOJ and Sens. Cornyn and Tillis produced new proposed settlement language sent that evening, aimed at clarifying that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is dead and refining the scope of Trump’s audit immunity.
- The piece reiterates that while DOJ says the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund was dropped in June 2026, officials maintain the audit-immunity portion of the Trump IRS settlement remains in force.
- Cornyn on July 29 publicly accused DOJ of 'stonewalling,' said 'the ball is in Blanche’s court,' and tied his support to written assurances that immunity applies only to existing audits and not future filings.
- President Trump on July 29 told reporters he still sees Blanche’s path to confirmation as secure and suggested Cornyn may be upset over Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate primary, which Cornyn lost.
12:36 AM
Blanche's nomination for AG on hold over fate of DOJ's "anti-weaponization fund"
New information:
- On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its Thursday morning vote on Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination after Sen. John Cornyn said he was 'not prepared to vote yes' without a written agreement to formally kill DOJ's 'anti-weaponization fund.'
- A committee spokesperson said the hearing was postponed 'as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche.'
- Cornyn is demanding a written modification of the DOJ settlement with President Trump and the IRS that both formally ends the nearly $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' and narrows the scope of tax audit immunity for Trump, his family, and covered entities.
- Cornyn told reporters that, as of Wednesday afternoon, he had not seen 'a single piece of writing that is responsive' to his requests, though DOJ says it provided a 'written proposal' to his staff on Tuesday; a source later said DOJ transmitted a new response on Wednesday that 'addresses their concerns.'
- Sen. Thom Tillis, another GOP member of the committee, said he shares Cornyn's concerns but appeared more optimistic about reaching a resolution after a meeting with Cornyn and Chairman Chuck Grassley.
- Cornyn highlighted that the settlement itself requires any changes to be agreed in writing by all parties and pressed Blanche's earlier testimony that the fund was 'dead,' asking for written confirmation consistent with that sworn statement.
- President Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on July 29, 2026, suggested Cornyn's opposition is tied to Trump's endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary; Cornyn publicly rejected that explanation as 'a convenient excuse' and 'untrue.'
July 29, 2026
9:04 PM
Trump-affiliated companies distance themselves from Trump-IRS deal amid probe
New information:
- The May 19, 2026 one-page DOJ settlement document, signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, states the IRS and Treasury are "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED" from pursuing any claims related to tax returns filed before the settlement by Donald Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization.
- That settlement language also says it applies to "parties including trusts, parent, sister, or related companies, affiliates, and subsidiaries," raising questions about coverage of Trump-linked businesses.
- In early July 2026, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer and Ron Wyden sent letters to 11 Trump-affiliated companies and organizations asking whether they are covered by the settlement’s audit bar.
- Trump Media and Technology Group, Kalshi, Polymarket, Kaz Resources, Powerus and American Bitcoin responded in letters saying they are not parties to the settlement or are unaware of any applicability to them, according to documents obtained by CBS.
- The Trump Organization, World Liberty Financial, 1789 Capital, Tag Air and Foundation Future Industries did not respond to the senators’ inquiries, according to Warren’s office.
- Sen. John Cornyn said on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that a proposed meeting with Blanche had been canceled and reiterated his criticism that the deal gives Trump audit immunity "that no other taxpayer could possibly get," while Sen. Thom Tillis has signaled he is moving closer to supporting Blanche’s confirmation.
8:16 PM
Blanche nomination at risk of delay as Sen. Cornyn seeks assurances on Trump-IRS settlement
New information:
- On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Sen. John Cornyn canceled a scheduled meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying DOJ had not adequately answered his written concerns about the Trump-IRS settlement.
- The article specifies that Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was settled on terms that dropped tax claims against Trump and his family and initially included a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, which DOJ has since said it will not pursue.
- Cornyn is demanding written assurances both that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is permanently abandoned and that the scope of the audit immunity for Trump is narrowly defined, while Blanche has said the deal covers only existing audits, not future filings.
- A person familiar with the matter said DOJ has provided Cornyn's office with a written proposal aimed at addressing his concerns about the audit immunity agreement and the fund.
- The article notes Cornyn recently lost the Republican primary in May 2026, a political detail not present in earlier coverage of his stance on the nomination.