Blanche Cuts a Deal With Cornyn to Get His Nomination Back on Track

Sen. John Cornyn has struck a deal with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department on an in-writing order nixing the “anti-weaponization fund” and limiting the scope of the audit immunity deal struck with President Donald Trump, putting Blanche a step closer to being confirmed as attorney general.

Late on Sunday, Cornyn and Blanche announced the agreement, which featured a formal order that the Texas senator and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) had been seeking for weeks in order to advance his nomination.

“Sen. Cornyn has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice,” Natalie Yezbick, a Cornyn spokeswoman, said in a statement. “[The DOJ] will be issuing a formal order permanently terminating the anti-weaponization fund and making clear in a binding written document that the scope of the audit settlement is limited to only the plaintiffs, including the President, and the IRS.”

The decision comes ahead of Tuesday’s planned Senate Judiciary Committee markup, which Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Republican leaders scheduled over the weekend in the hopes that a deal would be struck.

A single “no” vote from Cornyn or Tillis would have sunk Blanche’s nomination.

The agreement came together despite apparent opposition from Trump, who has vocally expressed support for the $1.8 billion fund. The president late last week indicated that he was willing to temporarily withdraw Blanche’s nomination until early next year when Cornyn and Tillis, who both lost primaries this year, are set to leave office.

Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday that he was prepared to “push hard” for the fund to be codified into law despite the reservations of numerous Senate Republicans beyond Cornyn and Tillis.

Blanche posted the pair of orders on his X feed.

“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche posted shortly before Cornyn publicly agreed to the deal. “We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement. The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”