Blanche AG confirmation narrowed after Collins defection vote

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday on whether to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to lead the Justice Department permanently. The vote came after two Republican senators ended their opposition following a late-Sunday deal.

• $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund formally rescinded in Blanche's Sunday order.
• Tax audit protections cover only Trump, two sons, and the Trump Organization.
• Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina dropped their holds Monday.
• Both senators leave the Senate in January after declining to seek re-election or losing a primary.

Why it matters: Blanche has served as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi was fired in April. His confirmation would give the Justice Department its first Senate-confirmed leader since then.

• A federal judge last month ruled Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit was an improper exercise in self-dealing and referred one of Trump's attorneys for potential disciplinary action.
• Democrats argue Blanche's order does not bar future compensation for Jan. 6 defendants through a pre-existing claims process.

How 71 sources split on this story

Where they split: The central dispute is whether Blanche's written order permanently forecloses the fund and limits on audit immunity, or whether a future administration could revive them.

What’s next: A full Senate vote could occur before the August recess ends Sept. 14.

• Sen. Adam Schiff said Sunday the deal still leaves open future payments to Jan. 6 defendants.
• Can a future attorney general revive the anti-weaponization fund without additional legislation?
• Will the full Senate confirm Blanche before the recess, and do Republican moderates including Collins and Murkowski vote yes?