Sen. Thom Tillis said Todd Blanche is unlikely to be confirmed as attorney general, linking the stalled nomination to President Donald Trump’s push for a fund associated with claims of political weaponization. Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, has remained at the center of the dispute as Trump presses for the fund and for Blanche to continue in the acting role.
The disagreement has created a confirmation obstacle for Blanche in the Senate. Tillis’s assessment indicates that concerns over the fund and the administration’s position on it have become intertwined with consideration of Blanche’s nomination, rather than being treated as a separate policy issue.
The episode has also prompted broader debate within the Republican Party over Trump’s demands and their effect on congressional support. Coverage of the dispute has focused on Blanche’s loyalty to Trump, the stalled confirmation process and whether the president’s insistence on the fund and Blanche’s continued service could make it more difficult to secure approval.
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