Cornyn Presses Trump AG Pick Blanche Over $1.8B Fund at Hearing
Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General and current Acting Attorney General, faced a pivotal confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) emerging as a critical swing vote who pressed the nominee over a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and the lack of written assurance that it is permanently dead. With Democrats unified in opposition and a razor-thin Republican majority on the committee, Cornyn’s skepticism could prove decisive for Blanche’s path to confirmation.
Background: From Trump’s Lawyer to Top Prosecutor
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who left a partnership at Cadwalader in 2023 to serve as Trump’s personal defense lawyer, has served as Acting Attorney General since April 2026, when Trump fired Pam Bondi. He was previously confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in March 2025. His transition from Trump’s personal attorney to the nation’s top law enforcement officer has raised persistent questions about his independence from political influence, as The Guardian reported.
The $1.8 Billion Flashpoint
The most consequential exchange of the hearing centered on a settlement between Trump, his family, and the IRS that resolved a $10 billion lawsuit over leaked tax returns. The agreement created a $1.8 billion fund to compensate “victims of government weaponization” and granted Trump and his family immunity from tax audits. A federal judge blocked the settlement on July 13, calling it “collusive.”
Cornyn, a lame-duck senator who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, displayed text from the agreement on a poster behind him during the hearing. He noted that Trump “has not agreed in writing” to dropping the fund and warned there is “no guarantee” the president won’t revive it. Blanche insisted under oath that the fund is “dead,” but conceded no written agreement exists to that effect.
“He was straightforward in answering my questions, but they don’t lead inevitably to the conclusion that it’s dead. It could be revived at a future date,” Cornyn told reporters after the exchange, according to Newsweek.
Epstein Files and Bipartisan Criticism
Blanche faced sharp questioning from both parties over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress passed in November 2025. The DOJ released nearly 3.5 million pages of Epstein-related records in January 2026, but many documents were heavily redacted, and a federal judge ruled in late June that Blanche had violated the law by failing to adequately explain the redactions.
Blanche apologized to Epstein accusers for what he described as mistakes in “about 1% of the documents,” but said no more Epstein files exist to release. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) confronted Blanche over his refusal to meet with Epstein survivors while having met with Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. “Your claim that you can’t meet with these victims because they’re represented by counsel is utter nonsense,” Booker said.
Independence Under Scrutiny
The central theme of the hearing was whether Blanche can exercise independent judgment from Trump. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the ranking Democrat, delivered a blistering opening statement: “You take an oath to the Constitution, not to the President. But you have treated DOJ like President Trump’s personal law firm.”
Blanche had a notable slip when Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) asked if he and Trump were friends. “I’m his lawyer,” Blanche said, before correcting himself: “Was his lawyer.” Blanche sought to downplay his alliance with Trump, telling the committee that “President Trump trusts me to give him counsel. Counsel does not mean I’m a yes man.”
The Razor-Thin Margin
With Democrats unified in opposition, Blanche cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the committee. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), another key swing vote who had warned he would oppose any nominee perceived as soft on Jan. 6 rioters, appeared to lean toward supporting Blanche after their exchange. Blanche said he believed any person who harmed a police officer on January 6 should have been prosecuted, and Tillis told him at the conclusion of his questioning that he did “a good job.”
Cornyn, however, remains undecided. Over 1,200 former DOJ employees signed a letter opposing Blanche’s confirmation, arguing that his “guiding star is fealty to the president, not the constitution,” as Stacey Young of Justice Connection told The Guardian.
What’s Next
The committee is expected to vote on Blanche’s nomination in the coming days. If confirmed, Blanche would become the permanent Attorney General after serving in an acting capacity since April. The outcome hinges on whether Cornyn and other undecided Republicans can be satisfied that the $1.8 billion fund is truly dead and that Blanche will maintain independence from the president who nominated him.