Cornyn presses Justice Department on Trump-IRS settlement as vote on Todd Blanche nomination faces delay, PBS reports

A planned procedural move in the Senate to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general appeared uncertain Wednesday after Sen. John Cornyn said he was seeking additional assurances from the Justice Department about how a settlement in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit involving the Internal Revenue Service will be handled, according to PBS NewsHour.

PBS reported that Cornyn’s demand centered on obtaining more information from the Justice Department related to the status and terms of the Trump-IRS settlement, and that the request became a key factor in whether the chamber could proceed with a vote aimed at moving Blanche’s nomination forward.

The Blanche nomination has been pending before the Senate, and the step under discussion is commonly used to clear nominations for further consideration. Under Senate practice, such scheduling and procedural votes can be affected when senators request additional commitments or documentation before allowing the process to advance.

Cornyn, a senior Republican lawmaker, framed his concern as a need for clearer assurances from the Justice Department, PBS reported, rather than a rejection of Blanche’s nomination on its merits. The outlet said the inquiry was tied directly to the ongoing federal litigation posture involving the IRS settlement connected to President Trump.

A Justice Department spokesman or filing was not identified in the available reporting packet as of Wednesday. The request, as described by PBS, therefore turns on whether the department provides the specific assurances Cornyn is seeking before lawmakers proceed.

The practical effect, based on the procedural nature of the planned Senate action described by PBS, is that Blanche’s timeline could shift depending on when the Justice Department responds and whether senators determine they have received sufficient assurances to continue the confirmation workflow.

If the Senate proceeds, the next steps would follow the chamber’s standard nomination process. If it does not, delay would extend the period before the nominee can take office, keeping current leadership arrangements in place for the Department of Justice’s executive functions until the nomination is resolved.