Todd Blanche Wins 12-10 Committee Vote After Deal Voids $1.8 Billion IRS Settlement Fund
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 4
Todd Blanche Wins 12-10 Committee Vote After Deal Voids $1.8 Billion IRS Settlement Fund
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 4
Summary
A 12-10 Senate Judiciary Committee vote sent acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to the Senate floor after two Republican holdouts dropped their blockade.
A late-Sunday deal unlocked the vote: Blanche ordered that there is “no Fund,” formally disavowing the $1.8 billion pool tied to Trump’s IRS lawsuit settlement.
The Justice Department also narrowed a separate tax-audit immunity provision, saying it covers only claims open at settlement and only Trump, two sons and the Trump Organization.
Dick Durbin and other Democrats said the order could be reversed after confirmation and noted the administration could still compensate Trump allies through an existing government-claims process.
The settlement had become the biggest threat to Blanche’s confirmation, adding to scrutiny over whether Trump’s former personal lawyer can act independently as attorney general.