The White House has been forced to court prominent Republican critics, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, in an urgent effort to rescue the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
With a razor-thin margin on the Senate Judiciary Committee, a single Republican “no” vote could sink the nomination of Trump’s former personal lawyer to become the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. According to a Politico report, the administration’s outreach comes as both Tillis and Cornyn—who have frequently clashed with President Donald Trump—hold off on committing their support.
The stakes are heightened following a highly critical ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams of the Southern District of Florida. Judge Williams expressed deep concern over Blanche’s involvement in a settlement that granted tax audit immunity to Trump and his family, referring Blanche to New York judicial officials for potential disciplinary action, including disbarment.
Trump has previously targeted both senators politically, calling Tillis a “loser” and backing Ken Paxton to effectively end Cornyn’s Senate career in Texas. However, their votes on the Judiciary Committee are now critical. Cornyn confirmed to Politico that discussions are ongoing with the administration regarding potential modifications to the controversial tax settlement agreement. Meanwhile, an anonymous source involved in the nomination process indicated that the White House believes Tillis will ultimately support the nominee, stating he is “squared away.”
Blanche’s nomination has faced intense scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans over his past representation of Trump and his actions as acting attorney general, including his role in several high-profile investigations of Trump’s perceived political rivals.