News

Durbin, voting against AG nomination, says Todd Blanche can’t be trusted

Durbin, voting against AG nomination, says Todd Blanche can’t be trusted

FILE - Sen. Dick Durbin speaks in 2025 in Springfield. Photo: Saga Communications


(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday voted 12 to 10 in favor of Todd Blanche’s nomination as Attorney General.

This came after two Republican holdouts demanded Blanche provide written assurances of changes to a sweeping deal settling President Trump’s $10 mill IRS lawsuit.  That includes killing the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund and modifying a tax immunity agreement for Trump and his family.

Senator Dick Durbin said prior to Tuesday’s vote there are loopholes in that deal.

“The parties could still sue to enforce the agreement and the cop-beaters fund can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice fifteen minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as Attorney General,” said Durbin (D-Springfield), Tuesday morning.

Durbin was referring to President Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit. That includes killing the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund that would pay Trump political allies including January 6 rioters.  Durbin says Blanche told him he’d made a mistake by creating the fund — but didn’t say it during his confirmation hearing.

“Mr. Blanche’s willingness to casually lie under oath about a statement he made in a room full of witnesses shows the lengths he will go to to avoid offending President Trump,” said Durbin.

The nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

Reporting from ABC News contributed to this story.

Recent Headlines

6 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Ariana Grande on decision to withdraw from the public eye: ‘Not a reactive or impulsive thing’

Ariana Grande chose to "clear the air about a few things" during her concert Monday night, following the news that she will be taking a break from being in the public eye after the conclusion of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour.

13 hours ago in Entertainment

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos lead $200M project to save 100 of globe’s most threatened species

Foundations funded and co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos have launched an initiative committing $200 million to revive 100 of Earth's most threatened species, including endangered lemurs, salamanders, pangolins, pigs and echidnas.

2 days ago in Entertainment

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ nets second best North American opening ever with $355 million

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" made box office history in its first weekend in theaters. The Sony-released superhero movie became the second-biggest North American opening ever with an astonishing $355 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was just a few million shy of "Avengers: Endgame," which debuted to $357 million in 2019.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical and will take a break from the public eye

Ariana Grande has pulled out of an upcoming stage musical in London, producers said, and plans to withdraw from the public eye for a break from the intense scrutiny she faces.