'He should resign immediately': Sen. Peter Welch vows to block Tod Blanche's confirmation

President Donald Trump nominated his former personal defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, to formally become attorney general amid controversy over his $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that gained bipartisan opposition. Now, Blanche's nomination faces a similar challenge with lawmakers like Vermont Senator Peter Welch vowing to oppose his confirmation while demanding an immediate resignation. 

Blanche, who took the role of acting attorney general after Trump ousted Pam Bondi in April, played a central role in pursuing Trump's political agenda. He opened up a new prosecution from the Justice Department against former FBI director James Comey and set up the "anti-weaponization fund" that could have compensated Trump supporters who were convicted of crimes tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. While Blanche testified that the fund was dead, he has defended another element of the settlement between Trump and the IRS, which protects him from audits of his past personal tax returns. Thus, Blanche is facing strong opposition from the Democrats, many of whom have vowed to block his confirmation. "Let me be abundantly clear: not only will I vote against Todd Blanche to be permanent Attorney General, but he should resign from his acting role immediately," Welch wrote in a post on X. 

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, led by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, also expressed similar opposition. "Todd Blanche is no neutral law enforcement officer. He’s never given up his primary role: Donald Trump’s chief defender in court," the committee posted on social media. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) went as far as to say he would trust billboard lawyers over Blanche on Tuesday on the Senate Floor. "The job description would stay the same: Trump’s fixer, bagman, hired gun," Schumer said of Blanche. 

The Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a confirmation hearing next month after the Senate returns from recess, and since the anti-weaponization caused a rare revolt from Republicans, it could stand in the way of Blanche's confirmation, as a single Republican senator could block Blanche in committee and prevent him from reaching the floor, as per the Washington Post. A dozen Republicans voted last week to bar the use of federal funds for the payouts on a procedural vote, and since Trump hasn't ruled out the revival of the fund, some remain concerned. 

Two Republicans on the committee, Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX), have openly opposed the fund, and Tillis previously raised concerns over Blanche's remarks on the Jan.6 rioters and his praising Trump's decision to pardon them, the Washington Post reported. Furthermore, Cornyn, on Tuesday, told reporters that he had many questions for the Acting Attorney General, including about the fund. "I have no red lines right now, but we're going to have an interesting conversation," Cornyn told reporters. Meanwhile, several Republicans remain hopeful of Blanche's confirmation, as last year, the Senate confirmed Blanche as deputy attorney general on a 52-46 vote along party lines. "A year ago, he was approved, and I don't think anything's changed," Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters, as per the publication.