RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is drawing a firm line ahead of a crucial meeting with Trump-nominated Todd Blanche, making clear that his support for Blanche’s appointment as permanent attorney general is tied to assurances over the Justice Department’s controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
Cornyn told reporters that he plans to meet with Blanche on Wednesday morning, placing additional pressure on a nomination that is already facing uncertainty from key Republicans. Cornyn said, however, that he needs the acting attorney general's assurances in writing beforehand, or there will not be a meeting, NOTUS' Igor Bobic said on X Tuesday.
The senator’s demands seemingly highlight broader tensions within the Republican Party over the direction of the Justice Department and how it has handled investigations including those of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Blanche has been serving as the premier law enforcement official in the U.S. since April, after Pam Bondi was fired.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ and Cornyn's office via online form and email Tuesday night for comment.
Cornyn, who lost his primary election to Trump-backed Ken Paxton, is calling for written guarantees from Blanche regarding the future of the funding program, which has become a focal point for lawmakers who argue that the Justice Department has been politicized.
In a post to X earlier on Tuesday, Cornyn said, "Fake news alert: there is no 'deal' on Blanche nom. They know what they have to do."
Cornyn’s position suggests that a simple verbal commitment may not be enough to secure his vote, as he appears to be looking for concrete assurances before moving forward with the scheduled meeting on Wednesday. With the confirmation vote approaching, the meeting could prove decisive in determining whether Blanche can secure enough Republican support.
Blanche, who has been selected for the attorney general role, faces a rigorous confirmation process as lawmakers scrutinize his plans for the Justice Department. While many Republicans have expressed confidence in his qualifications and alignment with the Trump administration’s priorities, concerns from senators like Cornyn and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have revealed fissures over specific policy issues.
Tillis, however, on Tuesday told CNN's Manu Raju that talks with the Justice Department about killing the fund are “going pretty well," adding that "hopefully, we can get the White House to execute.”
Cornyn’s intervention adds another layer of uncertainty to a nomination already described as being on shaky ground. A single Republican holdout can become significant in a closely divided Senate, making individual negotiations especially important. The upcoming meeting between Cornyn and Blanche will likely determine whether Blanche can address those concerns and whether the senator is willing to support his confirmation.
Craig Agranoff, political professor at Florida Atlantic University, told Newsweek via text message on Tuesday night that "Cornyn is making a realistic ask given the unusual structure of that settlement agreement. Senators routinely demand written commitments on nominations when the language leaves open the possibility of something being revived later. Blanche has said the anti-weaponization fund is dead but has so far declined to modify the underlying agreement in writing, which is exactly what Cornyn is pressing for.
"Whether Blanche bends depends on how badly the White House wants this confirmation. Cornyn is considered a lame duck after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, so he has little political incentive to fold. At the same time Blanche needs every Republican vote he can get on a closely divided Judiciary Committee. This is classic leverage politics. The administration may ultimately decide a written clarification is a small price to pay for getting their AG confirmed."
The fund was designed to compensate people who claimed they were unfairly targeted by government investigations. Blanche framed it as a response to what President Donald Trump and his allies have described as “lawfare.”
But the proposal faced bipartisan criticism and legal obstacles, leading the administration to ultimately comply with a federal court order in Virginia temporarily blocking it, preventing the Justice Department from establishing or operating it pending further court proceedings.
Critics raised concerns that it could allow compensation for those convicted of crimes connected to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including those found guilty of assaulting police officers. Blanche declined to publicly rule out such eligibility.
Under mounting political and legal pressure, Blanche told lawmakers last month: “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period.” The reversal marked a rare retreat for the administration.
Cornyn's latest remarks reflect a larger debate within Washington over the future role of the Justice Department, including questions on accountability, funding priorities and political influence. As Blanche works to gain support, senators are signaling that commitments made during the confirmation process could shape expectations for how the department operates going forward.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has slated a key vote for Thursday related to Blanche's nomination.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins .
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