Trump says he may withdraw Blanche nomination ‘temporarily’

July 30 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is open to withdrawing his nomination of Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general as two Republican senators oppose the appointment.

Trump posted on social media that he would consider withdrawing the nomination until after Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., are out of office.

“Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it!” Trump wrote. “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.”

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary was scheduled to vote on Blanche’s nomination on Thursday. Hours before the vote was set to take place a note on the committee’s website announced it had been postponed.

Blanche has been the acting attorney general since shortly after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. If his nomination were to fail, he may remain acting attorney general for up to 210 days after the rejection under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Trump may also nominate him again, resetting the clock.

Cornyn lost the Republican primary to former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in May and Tillis announced last month that he will not seek re-election.

“Remember, both Cornyn and Tillis voted for Merrick Garland, and others, too numerous to mention,” Trump continued. “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.”

The senators have 157 days left in their term.

Cornyn and Tillis have voiced opposition to Blanche’s nomination over his support of Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund meant to pay to his supporters, including those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The senators have called for Blanche to put in writing that the fund will not be revived.

They have also expressed concern about the settlement Trump reached with the government while in office that shields him and his family from facing any government action over their taxes. Cornyn has said he wants Blanche to clarify that the agreement only applies to past tax investigations that were part of the lawsuit.