All articles tagged with #judiciary committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general along party lines after he pledged the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund would be scrapped, sending the nomination to the full Senate where Democrats remain skeptical and Republicans say they will back him, though critics warn the fund could be revived and questions about DOJ independence persist.
Republican Todd Blanche won a party-line 12-10 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance his nomination as attorney general, moving him toward a final confirmation vote soon. Democrats criticized a payout fund and an IRS immunity deal, while several GOP lawmakers remain undecided as leadership seeks to wrap up confirmation before the upcoming recess, with Cornyn and Tillis indicating support and others weighing their votes.
Senate Republicans are optimistic about confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche by week’s end, but several undecided GOP lawmakers remain; a weekend deal with Senators Cornyn and Tillis to clarify a Trump-IRS settlement improved his Judiciary Committee prospects, though a full Senate vote will depend on the remaining holdouts and could come as early as Saturday if the committee approves him.
Sen. Cornyn and Tillis said they will advance Todd Blanche’s nomination after he rescinded May’s order that created the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund tied to Trump's IRS settlement. Blanche’s new order voids the May directive but preserves the settlement’s requirement to create the fund, with protections limited to retroactive named plaintiffs. Trump had threatened to keep Blanche as acting AG and revive the fund, while U.S. judges have issued mixed rulings on enforceability. The Judiciary Committee is slated to vote on Blanche’s nomination Tuesday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination, but Sen. John Cornyn hasn’t committed to supporting him until Blanche formally modifies the DOJ- brokered IRS settlement—narrowing an $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' and ensuring the audit-immunity deal only retroactively applies. With a Thursday committee vote and a 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline discussed by Judiciary Chair Grassley, Blanche’s confirmation could be delayed if Cornyn withholds support, while Sen. Wyden’s amendment seeks to block the immunity deal and bids from other Republicans remain mixed.
Sen. John Cornyn said the Senate Judiciary Committee’s planned vote on Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination could be postponed while Republicans seek written modifications to the Trump-IRS settlement that created an $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and shielded Trump from audits; with Democratic opposition, even a single Republican ‘no’ could derail confirmation. The day also includes updates on a bipartisan Senate tax-administration bill in the Finance Committee and ongoing negotiations over audit-immunity provisions, along with other political developments in the live-feed.
Sen. John Cornyn says he will oppose Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination unless a written modification to the Trump-IRS settlement is signed—rescinding the proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and restricting audit immunity—before Thursday’s Judiciary Committee vote.
The White House is actively courting Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to secure votes for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche, as a single GOP 'no' in the Senate Judiciary Committee could derail his confirmation. Negotiations reportedly revolve around potential changes to a controversial settlement related to a funding program for Trump allies and the Epstein files, with Tillis seeking the fund nullified; a committee vote is targeted for July 30 ahead of a possible Senate floor vote in August.
Trump’s attorney-general nominee Todd Blanche faces a likely contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, with Democrats expected to press him and a single GOP vote potentially derailing his appointment; the day also includes confirmations for Jay Clayton to head the intelligence agencies and Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC, alongside updates on immigration enforcement incidents, Biden’s forthcoming memoir, and a rise in security concerns for the Supreme Court.
A House Judiciary subcommittee’s data from YouTube shows roughly 70% of Sunday Ticket subscribers watch only one NFL team, while many canceled because it’s expensive, challenging the NFL’s claim that Sunday Ticket is a fair premium product and potentially weakening its antitrust defense in the ongoing fight over out‑of‑market rights and pricing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is beginning the confirmation process for President Trump's judicial nominees, including Whitney Hermandorfer for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, amidst partisan debates over the influence of the American Bar Association and concerns about nominee experience and qualifications.
Attorney General Merrick Garland rebuked House Republicans' threats to hold him in contempt, calling their actions "unprecedented and unfounded" attacks on the Department of Justice. Garland emphasized that the DOJ will not be intimidated or influenced by political pressures and will continue to uphold its duties. He also dismissed conspiracy theories about the DOJ's involvement in former President Trump's conviction and criticized efforts to obtain sensitive law enforcement information.
During her Supreme Court confirmation hearings, nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson delved into the definition of "officer of the United States," a term critical to the separation of powers. The discussion centered on the scope of executive authority and the potential impact on the judiciary, with senators and Jackson exploring the nuances of the term in the context of her judicial philosophy.
Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at a GOP-led House contempt hearing after the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees advanced resolutions recommending him to be held in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas for closed-door testimony.
Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a former US Senate staffer, has been ousted from his job after allegedly filming himself having sex in a Judiciary Committee hearing room. The explicit video, which took place in the same room where Supreme Court nominees are grilled, was posted on a public account. The United States Capitol Police have launched an investigation into potential criminal violations. Maese-Czeropski previously appeared in an ad for President Biden and has faced public mockery for his actions.