US president Donald Trump has threatened to “temporarily” shelve a bid to permanently install his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as US attorney general amid resistance in US Congress. Blanche, who is currently serving as acting attorney general, has been struggling to persuade a handful of Republican senators to back his nomination for the role.
Why is Blanche facing resistance?
Blanche’s prospects appeared to dim on Wednesday, when a key Republican senator — John Cornyn of Texas — told reporters he would not support Blanche’s nomination without written confirmation that a previously-planned for the president’s allies was dead. Blanche needs the vote of every Republican on the Senate judiciary committee, including Cornyn, to advance his nomination to land the role on a permanent basis.
What did Trump say?
Writing on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said:
“Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it! He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time.
“However, John Cornyn, of Texas, and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, and whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event, as Acting.
“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” Trump declared.
Trump’s comments came as Blanche faced resistance from a small group of Republican senators, raising doubts about whether his nomination could advance without a change in position from Cornyn and Tillis.
What happens next?
Blanche would remain in the acting role if Trump follows through on temporarily withdrawing his name. Trump said he could put Blanche back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office, framing the move as contingent on the senators “do[ing] the right thing.”
