Sen. John Cornyn denied reports that he had cut a deal to advance Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination, calling such reports "fake news" on X. Cornyn has said he will only back Blanche if the DOJ formally rescinds a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and narrows tax-audit immunity for the president's family. Politico reported that talks are ongoing but the changes Cornyn demands were not yet secured. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Blanche's nomination on Thursday, and a single GOP defection could block the nominee.
Sen. Cornyn Denies Any Deal to Fast-Track Trump's Acting AG Pick, Demands Settlement Rewrite
Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) on Tuesday forcefully denied reports that he struck a deal with the Trump administration to advance Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Cornyn repeated the conditions he has publicly set for supporting Blanche: the Department of Justice must revise the settlement that created the disputed "anti-weaponization" fund so that the fund is unequivocally terminated, and the scope of tax-audit immunity extended to the president and his family must be limited.
Posting on X, Cornyn wrote: "Fake news alert: there is no 'deal' on Blanche nom. They know what they have to do." The message came after a Politico report that described ongoing talks between Cornyn, Blanche and Justice Department officials aimed at securing the senator's vote by changing the settlement language.
What Cornyn Wants
According to reporting, Cornyn's demands include a formal rescission of a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and tighter limits on tax-audit immunity for the president and his family. Politico said those changes had not been secured as of Monday.
Timing And Stakes
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Blanche's nomination on Thursday. With a narrow GOP majority in committee, a single Republican defection — or failure to secure Cornyn's support — could prevent Blanche from advancing to the full Senate.
Hearing Highlights
Cornyn, who recently lost his primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, pressed Blanche during a recent hearing about the fund. Blanche initially declared the fund dead but later acknowledged under questioning that it could be revived, a point that helped fuel Republican concern.
Why it matters: The dispute centers on settlement language and presidential protections that could shape how aggressively future administrations use settlement funds and tax protections. Those legal details now stand between Blanche and a committee vote.
The original reporting appeared on Mediaite and Politico. Cornyn's public denial and the ongoing negotiations underscore how procedural language in settlements — not just bigger policy fights — can determine whether a nominee wins crucial support.
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