Blanche's AG nomination moves ahead after delay
Cornyn joined Tillis in securing assurances about the fund before voting to advance Blanche’s nomination.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYRoll Call is an established outlet focused on Congress, and this report attributes claims to named lawmakers across party lines.
- Source type — Established national news outlet with a strong focus on congressional reporting.
- Author attribution — The report names its author and a contributing reporter.
- Source diversity — Includes named statements from Republican and Democratic senators involved in the committee proceedings.
- Transparency — The report identifies the committee vote and attributes claims, but the text provides limited information about corrections practices.
The report gives the committee vote tally and includes arguments from senators on both sides, with specific claims attributed to their speakers. It provides limited independent examination of the legal enforceability of the agreements.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article gives space to supporters and opponents and reports the competing claims about the agreements. It does not independently resolve whether those agreements will prevent the fund from returning.
- Counterarguments presented — Republican assurances are presented alongside Democratic objections about enforceability.
- Source diversity — Named senators from both parties are quoted or paraphrased.
- Omitted context — The legal effect of the agreements is disputed but not independently analyzed in depth.
The report presents the nomination’s advancement and competing Republican and Democratic arguments in largely neutral language. It does not clearly favor either side.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive language, with contentious characterizations attributed to the lawmakers who used them.
- Source selection — Includes comments from Republicans who supported advancing the nomination and Democrats who opposed it.
- Framing — Frames the story around the committee vote, the deal, and uncertainty about Senate floor support.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination by a 12-10 vote after Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis secured assurances about rescinding a controversial fund. The nomination now goes to the Senate floor, where support remains uncertain.
The committee advanced Blanche’s nomination after Cornyn and Tillis, who had delayed the vote, struck a deal concerning the $1.8 billion compensation fund and aspects of the IRS settlement that created it. The vote was 12-10, with all Democrats opposed. Cornyn and Tillis said Blanche gave assurances the fund would not return; Democrats argued the written agreements were not enforceable.
Sen. Susan Collins said she would oppose Blanche on the Senate floor, citing the fund, tax immunity for President Donald Trump and his family, and other concerns about Blanche’s conduct. Democrats also criticized his handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The article says the floor vote was not yet secured.
Community verdict
20 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Texas senator who helped negotiate assurances and voted to advance Blanche’s nomination
Attorney general nominee who gave senators assurances about the fund and settlement
Blanche's version of this story ↗Senate Judiciary Committee chairman who supported the deal and Blanche’s nomination
Former attorney general referenced in criticism of Blanche’s oversight
Maine senator who said she would oppose Blanche’s confirmation
President whose family was cited in Collins’s criticism of the settlement
Kentucky senator whose expected absence could affect the floor vote
Senate majority leader whose vote-counting constraints were described
Alaska senator described as undecided about the floor vote
Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member who argued the agreements were unenforceable
Rhode Island senator who criticized the agreements and Blanche’s handling of Epstein-related files
North Carolina senator who helped negotiate assurances and voted to advance Blanche’s nomination
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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