WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he is willing to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general as Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina withhold their support over concerns about a Justice Department settlement involving Trump’s tax records.
Trump said he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general and could renominate him after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate in January.
“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Trump also criticized the two senators, saying their political careers had ended because of his actions. Tillis announced his retirement last year, while Cornyn lost his Republican primary this year to a Trump-backed challenger.
Cornyn and Tillis have opposed Blanche’s nomination over a Justice Department agreement that settled Trump’s lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns. The settlement included a proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who alleged they were unfairly targeted by the government, as well as provisions that could shield Trump, his family and businesses from audits of past tax returns.
Blanche has said the proposed fund will not move forward. Cornyn and Tillis have sought written assurances from the Justice Department about the scope of the tax provisions, but said the department has not provided them.
“POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,” Cornyn wrote in response to Trump.
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its planned vote on Blanche’s nomination Wednesday as Republicans worked to secure enough support.
Democrats have opposed Blanche’s nomination, while most Republicans have supported him. Tillis has also criticized Blanche’s handling of the controversy surrounding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump said he could renominate Blanche after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate. However, that plan could face additional obstacles if Democrats gain control of the Senate in November.
