Let's Be Clear: Todd Blanche Is an Unqualified Hack Who Shouldn't Be U.S. Attorney General
Tillis joined Cornyn in saying he would support advancing Blanche’s nomination after the Justice Department issued orders concerning the IRS settlement.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYEsquire is an established national publication with professional editorial standards and an identified author. This article is an openly polemical column rather than a straight news report.
- Source type — Established national publication; a strong institutional credibility baseline.
- Editorial standards — A professional magazine newsroom, though this piece is opinion rather than reported news.
- Author attribution — The column identifies its author.
The column cites statements by the senators, quoted settlement language, and commentary from named legal and political writers. Its treatment is highly one-sided and does not provide a substantial response from Blanche or the Justice Department on the legal questions it raises.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The piece includes the senators’ explanation and quotes Blanche’s description of the order, but its argument is overwhelmingly critical and does not meaningfully develop the opposing case.
- Loaded language — Frequent insults and ridicule make the column strongly one-sided in tone.
- Counterarguments presented — Includes the senators’ stated reasons for support and Blanche’s account of the order, but does not explore their case in depth.
- Source diversity — Quotes the senators and cites outside commentators, but the cited analysis chiefly supports the column’s criticism.
- Opinion vs reporting — Written as an argument against Blanche’s qualification and the senators’ support.
The column uses strongly derisive language and frames Blanche, Trump, Cornyn, and Tillis in an openly hostile way. Its framing and selection of criticism point strongly left.
- Language tone — Uses personal insults and mocking comparisons to condemn Blanche and the senators.
- Framing — Presents the nomination and the senators’ support as evidence of political and legal unfitness.
- Source selection — Relies on sources questioning the legal effect of the DOJ order, without a developed defense of it.
Charles P. Pierce argues Todd Blanche is unqualified to serve as attorney general and criticizes John Cornyn and Thom Tillis for agreeing to support his nomination after a Justice Department order concerning a settlement involving Donald Trump and the IRS. Pierce questions whether that order actually changes the settlement’s terms.
Pierce argues that Blanche’s role as Trump’s former personal attorney makes him unfit to be attorney general. He reports that Cornyn and Tillis said they would support advancing Blanche’s nomination after the Justice Department issued an order terminating an anti-weaponization fund and clarifying that an IRS settlement was limited to the lawsuit’s parties.
Pierce questions whether the order can override the settlement, citing Andrew McCarthy’s view that the fund could remain viable without a written agreement by the parties. He also raises questions about the settlement’s tax-audit provisions and whether Blanche’s order effectively limits their reach.
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Senator who agreed to support advancing Blanche’s nomination
Cornyn's version of this story ↗
Acting attorney general and nominee for the permanent post
Blanche's version of this story ↗
President and a party to the IRS settlement discussed
Part of a bigger story
13 OUTLETSOutlets agree the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination after Thomas Tillis and John Cornyn backed it following Justice Department action addressing their concerns. The coverage connects their support to assurances about a proposed fund and an IRS settlement. Left-leaning outlets portray the support as evidence of Blanche’s and the senators’ unfitness. Center outlets focus on the committee vote and assurances behind the changed support, with Newsweek also noting Tillis’s criticism of DOJ. Right-leaning outlets likewise center the vote and deal, especially the holdouts’ demands and the department’s response, while The Last Refuge also reports Democratic objections.
- ARTICLES
- 13
- OUTLETS
- 13
- AVG CRED
- 67
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