Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche is encountering resistance from within the Republican Party as he seeks Senate confirmation to permanently lead the Department of Justice. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, told reporters on Wednesday that he is not yet ready to support Blanche's nomination.

“I’m not prepared to vote yes,” Cornyn said, citing concerns over Blanche's stewardship of the Justice Department, particularly a controversial settlement brokered in May in response to a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The settlement shielded Trump and his family from future IRS audits and established an “anti-weaponisation fund” to compensate individuals allegedly subjected to political persecution. Blanche later abandoned the fund amid bipartisan backlash.

A federal judge earlier this month ruled the settlement illegal, accusing Blanche of double-dealing by representing both the federal government and Trump as a private citizen. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche assured lawmakers the fund was dead, but Cornyn demanded written guarantees, stating he had not received any responsive documents.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Blanche's nomination on Thursday. If all Republican members support him, the nomination will proceed to a full Senate debate. Cornyn, who is leaving the Senate in January after losing his primary to a Trump-backed candidate, has become an increasingly vocal critic of the president.

President Trump, when asked about Cornyn's stance, expressed confidence in Blanche and suggested Cornyn's opposition might stem from personal grievance over lack of endorsement. Critics accuse Blanche of prioritizing loyalty to Trump over prosecutorial independence, citing actions such as filing a second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. Blanche denies any conflict of interest.

Source: www.aljazeera.com