Todd Blanche, nominated by US President Donald Trump for attorney general, underwent intense bipartisan questioning on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, before the US Senate Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers focused on the release of the Epstein files and a settlement that granted Trump broad tax immunity.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, was pressed by Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas regarding the Justice Department’s decision to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The settlement included the creation of a now-abandoned $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate Trump allies for alleged past government mistreatment. Additionally, the deal contained an order shielding Trump and his family businesses from tax audits related to prior conduct.

During his testimony, Blanche described the fund as "dead" but acknowledged that the settlement itself had not been formally rescinded. He stated that Trump’s legal team would need to pursue court action to enforce the settlement, though Blanche indicated there were no current plans to do so. He defended the tax immunity portion as standard in IRS settlements, despite experts labeling it highly unusual.

Senator Cornyn expressed ongoing concerns, telling reporters that Blanche’s responses had not alleviated his doubts about the fund and that he had not yet decided how to vote. “The argument was that the weaponisation fund was dead,” Cornyn said. “What he confirmed is that it’s not. I continue to have some concerns.” He added he would wait until the vote to make a final decision.

Sources