Thom Tillis in White House talks over Blanche confirmation
Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn are in active talks with the White House to push Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination across the finish line, while both remain noncommittal as a single Republican “no” on the Senate Judiciary Committee could sink the bid. Both confirmed the outreach in Capitol Hill interviews, while officials say conversations with committee members continue.
Key Takeaways
- Thom Tillis and John Cornyn remain undecided on advancing Todd Blanche in committee.
- The White House is courting both senators despite past public clashes with President Donald Trump.
- Settlement issues around a $1.776 billion fund and Trump family tax immunity are central sticking points.
- Tillis says Justice Department staff have been in near-daily contact; an anonymous source expects him to back Blanche.
What are Thom Tillis and Cornyn discussing with the White House?
According to Politico, Tillis and Cornyn confirmed Monday evening that the White House has been reaching out. A White House official said the administration “continues to have active conversations with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer and the acting attorney general, needs committee support to move forward. Coverage of the standoff sits alongside other high-stakes Washington stories tracked in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
Why does one Republican vote matter so much?
Reporting cited by The Daily Beast notes that a single Republican “no” vote on the Judiciary Committee could tank Blanche’s nomination. That gives Tillis and Cornyn unusual leverage after years of friction with Trump, who has called Tillis a “loser” and a “quitter” and branded Cornyn “hopeless.”
Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Cornyn in the Republican primary effectively ended Cornyn’s Senate career path, making the current charm offensive politically awkward for the White House.
What concerns does Thom Tillis still have?
Both senators have raised alarms over Blanche’s role in signing off on the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and agreeing to give the Trump family immunity from tax investigations. Cornyn told Politico those issues are still under discussion “to see whether we can get a modification of the settlement agreement.”
Asked if Blanche might yield, Cornyn replied, “Well, does he want to get confirmed or not?” The Justice Department has said the fund will not move forward after bipartisan outrage over possible payments linked to Jan. 6 rioters, but Blanche has not put that commitment in writing.
Tillis said he has been encouraged by Justice Department outreach, noting his staff have been in touch “almost, probably daily.” Blanche did meet Jeffrey Epstein’s victims after Tillis pressed for it, though survivors later called the session demoralizing. Tillis still wants clarity on any FBI steps toward Epstein co-conspirators. An anonymous nomination-linked source told Politico, “Tillis, we think, is squared away.”