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Senate advances Todd Blanche to be Trump's attorney general despite 'weaponization,' Epstein and abortion concerns

Blanche’s nomination advanced after he posted an order rescinding the anti-weaponization fund order and described his plans on abortion enforcement.

Senate advances Todd Blanche to be Trump's attorney general despite 'weaponization,' Epstein and abortion concerns
Image · The Independent

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Outlet credibilityThe Independent77/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 1, 2026
tl;dr

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination after Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn agreed to support him following an agreement to rescind the Justice Department’s anti-weaponization fund order. Democrats questioned whether the agreement would prevent the fund from being established again.

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23 VOTES
How does this story look for
Todd Blanche R · Attorney General
● OPEN

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Todd Blanche
R · Attorney General

Acting attorney general nominated to become attorney general

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who supported the fund and threatened to withdraw Blanche’s nomination

Trump's version of this story ↗
Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

Senator who threatened to oppose Blanche’s nomination before agreeing to support him

Tillis's version of this story ↗

Former attorney general whose handling of the Epstein files is described as a reason for her departure

Sheldon Whitehouse
D · RI · SEN

Senator who criticized the agreement as ineffective

Cory A. Booker
D · NJ · SEN

Senator who denounced the nomination and said the agreement offered no guarantees

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Senator who objected to the fund and IRS settlement before agreeing to support Blanche’s nomination

ALSO MENTIONED  James Comey, Former FBI director named as a target of unsuccessful cases brought under Trump; Letitia James, New York attorney general named as a target of unsuccessful cases brought under Trump

Part of a bigger story

14 OUTLETS
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination 12-10 after Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis backed him following Justice Department assurances about a fund and an IRS settlement. Left-leaning outlets frame the deal as a concession over the fund and connect Blanche to Trump, while one post alleges he serves Trump. Center outlets emphasize the committee process and assurances, with some noting that full-Senate support remains uncertain. Right-leaning outlets present the assurances as addressing the holdouts’ demands and clearing a committee hurdle, while one account also foregrounds Democrats’ objections.

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