Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general clears critical hurdle after deal with GOP holdouts
Cornyn backed Blanche after the Justice Department provided assurances about the fund and tax-audit terms in Trump’s IRS settlement.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Newsday, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to The Associated Press, an established wire service with strong editorial standards and a corrections process. Newsday republishes the AP report, so the credibility assessment follows the organization responsible for the reporting.
- Source type — The article is attributed to The Associated Press, a major wire service.
- Editorial standards — AP is an established newsroom with formal reporting and editing standards.
- Author attribution — The reporting is clearly credited to the Associated Press.
- Correction history — AP maintains a corrections process for its reporting.
The report gives specific vote and settlement details and includes statements from senators on both sides of the nomination dispute. Some consequential claims about the department and settlement are attributed to officials or critics rather than independently explored in depth.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The report presents the holdouts’ concerns, Blanche’s and the Justice Department’s response, and views from senators supporting and opposing his nomination. It gives substantial space to criticism of the settlement and questions about independence, while also including the supporters’ explanations.
- Counterarguments presented — Supporters’ reasons for backing Blanche appear alongside concerns about the fund and the department’s independence.
- Source diversity — The article quotes senators from both parties and reports positions from senators who had not decided.
- Omitted context — The report provides context on the settlement and Blanche’s prior actions but does not deeply examine the competing claims.
- Loaded language — Charged descriptions are generally attributed to speakers rather than presented as the article’s own judgment.
The report uses largely neutral language and includes both Republicans’ rationale for supporting Blanche and Democratic and Republican concerns about the settlement and the Justice Department’s independence.
- Language tone — The article predominantly uses descriptive language and attributes evaluative claims to the people making them.
- Source selection — It includes supporters and opponents of Blanche as well as senators who have not declared a position.
- Framing — The focus is the committee vote and negotiations that preceded it, rather than an argument for or against confirmation.
Original publisher not identified
This article credits another publisher, which ChamberLight has not identified, so the scores are Newsday's own.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination in a 12-10 party-line vote after John Cornyn and Thom Tillis secured assurances about a fund tied to Donald Trump’s IRS settlement. Blanche’s confirmation by the full Senate remained uncertain.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination. Cornyn and Tillis, who had threatened to block it over the settlement of Trump’s IRS lawsuit, backed Blanche after the Justice Department confirmed it would not move forward with a $1.8 billion fund and clarified the settlement’s tax-audit provisions. Blanche also issued an order stating that there was no fund.
The full Senate vote was still uncertain. Collins said she would oppose Blanche, citing actions she said had eroded the Justice Department’s independence; Murkowski and Cassidy had not said how they would vote. Democrats argued the order would not prevent the fund from being revived, while Durbin said it could return under a new order.
Community verdict
14 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator who negotiated conditions for supporting Blanche’s nomination
Senator who negotiated conditions for supporting Blanche’s nomination
Tillis's version of this story ↗Acting attorney general and nominee for attorney general
Blanche's version of this story ↗Senator and Judiciary Committee chair who supported the negotiated resolution
Former attorney general whom Blanche replaced as acting attorney general
Senator who said she would oppose Blanche’s confirmation
President whose IRS lawsuit and settlement were central to the dispute over the fund
Senator whose possible absence could affect the confirmation vote
Senator whose position on Blanche’s confirmation was undecided
Senate Democrat who criticized the Justice Department’s assurances about the fund
Senator whose position on Blanche’s confirmation was undecided
Part of a bigger story
18 OUTLETSJohn Cornyn and Thom Tillis agreed to support advancing Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination after the Justice Department provided assurances or made changes concerning a proposed fund and an IRS settlement. Left-leaning outlets emphasize criticism of the senators’ support and question whether the agreement changed protections tied to Trump. Center outlets focus on the committee process and assurances, while some also note opposition and uncertainty about floor support. Right-leaning outlets present the agreement as addressing Cornyn and Tillis’s concerns and moving Blanche forward, with some also relaying Democratic objections.
- ARTICLES
- 20
- OUTLETS
- 18
- AVG CRED
- 70
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