Nomination in doubt
President Donald Trump has threatened to pull Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general after senators pushed back on the choice. The dispute centers on an IRS settlement that several Republican senators oppose.
Trump said he would keep Blanche in acting status if the nomination cannot move forward. "We will not let them block the department," Trump told reporters. The president's comments came after a week of private meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. At issue is a multi-billion-dollar settlement between the IRS and a corporate taxpayer that critics call a giveaway.
Cornyn pushes back
Senator John Cornyn of Texas has emerged as the main obstacle. The outgoing senator is using his lame-duck power to stand in the way of the nomination, a rare act of defiance against a president of his own party.
Cornyn has said he will not support the nominee unless the IRS settlement is reversed. His position has forced the White House to negotiate directly with him, and so far no agreement has been reached. Republican aides described the standoff as the most serious test of Trump's authority since the start of his second term.
What happens next
The Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a vote on the nomination. Under Senate rules, a single senator can slow the process by placing a hold, though holds can be overridden with enough votes.
White House officials say they are exploring options, including waiting until holdouts leave office or installing Blanche in an acting role. Democrats have stayed quiet during the fight, letting Republicans argue among themselves. A handful of other GOP senators have signaled sympathy with Cornyn, though none has yet said how they will vote.
The outcome will shape the Justice Department's direction for the rest of the year. It will also test whether Trump can enforce party discipline ahead of the November midterms, when control of both chambers of Congress is at stake.