Someone is clearly still mad that Trump picked Ken Paxton over him.
President Donald Trump is facing unexpected resistance from within his own party as a key Republican senator refuses to commit to supporting one of the administration’s most important nominees.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Wednesday that he remains undecided on whether he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as the next U.S. attorney general, raising fresh questions about Republican unity during a closely watched confirmation battle.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney before being nominated to lead the Justice Department, has come under scrutiny from several Republican senators over concerns surrounding a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.”
During Blanche’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Cornyn repeatedly questioned him about whether the fund had truly been eliminated. The Texas Republican appeared unconvinced by Blanche’s responses.
Speaking to CNN’s Manu Raju after the hearing, Cornyn made it clear he is still weighing his decision.
According to Raju, Cornyn said he remains genuinely undecided because he is concerned the $1.8 billion fund may still exist despite assurances from the administration. “What he confirmed is it’s not dead,” Cornyn reportedly said.
Cornyn’s hesitation could prove significant.
With the Senate Judiciary Committee now narrowly divided following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Republicans hold only an 11-10 majority. That means nearly every Republican vote will be critical if Blanche hopes to advance to a full Senate confirmation vote.
Cornyn is not the only Republican expressing concern.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also pressed Blanche over the controversial fund, which originated from a settlement between the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service.
“The 1776 fund has to be certainly and completely ended for me to feel comfortable moving forward,” Tillis told reporters Tuesday.
Tillis, who previously described the program as “stupid on stilts,” said recent court rulings only strengthened his concerns about the legality of the settlement.
By Wednesday, however, Tillis indicated he was leaning toward supporting Blanche, provided Congress permanently eliminates the fund through legislation backed by President Trump.
“I want something that’s codified,” Tillis said, emphasizing that he wants a permanent legislative solution rather than relying solely on administrative assurances.
The controversy surrounding the fund intensified earlier this week when a federal judge struck down the settlement that created it.
President Trump originally sued the IRS after portions of his tax returns were leaked to media organizations. That lawsuit eventually resulted in a settlement establishing the $1.8 billion fund, but critics argued the agreement exceeded the government’s legal authority and improperly directed taxpayer money.
In a sharply worded ruling, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams rejected the settlement, writing that the case was not a legitimate legal dispute requiring judicial resolution.
The judge concluded that the agreement appeared designed to provide legal legitimacy for an arrangement benefiting individuals and organizations affiliated with the president while directing billions of taxpayer dollars toward purposes not specifically authorized by law.
The ruling has added new uncertainty to Blanche’s confirmation process and intensified calls from Republican lawmakers for clear guarantees that the fund has been permanently dismantled.
For Cornyn and other skeptical Republicans, the issue goes beyond one settlement. They argue the next attorney general must provide confidence that taxpayer dollars will be handled transparently and within the limits of federal law.
With Republicans holding only a razor-thin majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee, every vote matters. Cornyn’s hesitation and Tillis’ demands for additional safeguards underscore that even within Trump’s own party, questions remain about the controversial settlement and its future.
Whether Blanche ultimately secures enough Republican support may depend on convincing skeptical senators that the disputed $1.8 billion fund has been permanently eliminated—an issue that is likely to remain at the center of his confirmation battle in the days ahead.