The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed its confirmation vote on acting attorney general Todd Blanche by one week, pushing the decision to July 30 as key Republicans remained undecided on whether to support his nomination on Thursday.
The postponement came after a contentious two-day hearing on July 15–16 in which Blanche faced tough questioning from both Democrats and some Republicans over his handling of sensitive cases, including the release of Jeffrey Epstein files that unmasked some victims’ identities. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said the delay was “per standard committee practice,” though the move highlighted persistent uncertainty about whether Blanche would secure the votes needed to advance to the full Senate.
Two retiring Republican senators on the committee—John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina—left the hearing without committing their support. Cornyn said he remained undecided, while Tillis was absent from Thursday’s vote delay session, attending a conflicting Senate Banking Committee meeting. Both had raised concerns during the hearing about Blanche’s role in establishing a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund as part of Trump’s settlement with his own administration’s IRS.
The uncertainty over Cornyn and Tillis is especially significant because both have had public disputes with President Trump. Trump endorsed Cornyn’s primary opponent earlier in 2026, effectively ending the senator’s reelection bid, and he had previously criticized Tillis for opposing the Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. Despite these tensions, their votes remain crucial: nominations require only a majority to advance from committee, and all Republicans on the panel are needed if any Democrat votes no.
Blanche, who was previously confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 after serving as Trump’s personal defense attorney in three criminal cases, faced additional pressure over his Epstein-related decisions. On July 16, he met with survivors of Epstein’s abuse following a demand from Tillis, though the meeting was described by survivors as tense and unproductive. Earlier that week, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin had pressed Blanche on his initial claim that he was “prohibited” from meeting directly with victims—a position he later reversed.
Democratic senators have uniformly opposed Blanche’s nomination, arguing he will prioritize Trump’s interests over the Justice Department’s independence. Durbin said Thursday that Blanche “will continue to serve the interests of Donald Trump, not the American people.” Senator Cory Booker held a forum Wednesday featuring former Justice Department officials and an Epstein survivor, all questioning Blanche’s fitness to lead the department.
The one-week delay also brought a new development: Senator Darline Graham, a South Carolina Republican, was sworn in July 14 following her brother Lindsey Graham’s sudden death and joined the committee for the first time. Her presence shifts the committee’s composition back to 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats, which observers said was likely a positive development for Blanche’s confirmation chances.
Blanche’s background includes six years as a prosecutor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2006 to 2014, followed by private practice where he represented Trump in multiple cases. Trump announced his nomination of Blanche as attorney general in early June, more than two months after former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s departure.
Sources
- Government Executive / States Newsroom — the postponement announcement, the July 23 vote delay, Grassley’s statement on standard practice, Cornyn and Tillis’s positions, the Epstein files concerns, and the “anti-weaponization” fund details
- CNBC — Blanche meeting with Epstein survivors on July 16, Tillis and Cornyn as undecided votes, and Tillis’s demand for the meeting
- PBS NewsHour — Blanche meeting with Epstein accusers and Tillis’s role in demanding it
- CNN — details of the Epstein survivor meeting as tense
- NBC News — Epstein survivor Dani Bensky’s characterization of the meeting
- The New York Times — Blanche’s hearing and Epstein concerns
- Politico — Cornyn’s undecided stance and his concerns during the hearing, Cornyn and Tillis being courted by the White House
- Reuters — Blanche’s prior confirmation as deputy attorney general and his background as Trump’s defense attorney
- Senate Judiciary Committee (official) — confirmation hearing dates of July 15–16, 2026
