Blanche approved by Judiciary Committee, Trump's AG nominee heads to full Senate vote

Todd Blanche was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday by a vote of 12-10, sending President Donald Trump's pick to be attorney general to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote.

The vote comes after Blanche, the current acting attorney general, struck a deal with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who said they are satisfied that the controversial "anti-weaponization fund" is dead. The pair of senators deadlocked the committee by refusing to vote for Blanche until he confirmed the program's end in writing, despite verbal assurances.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday ahead of the vote on Blanche, said they are concerned the fund could still be revived. All of the committee's Democrats opposed Blanche's confirmation, while all the Republicans voted in favor.

"This document is a sham," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said, referring to files Blanche posted to social media that he said mark the end of the fund. "It is a sham and a fraud on the Congress."

Committee approval is a key step in getting Blanche's nomination across the finish line. But he will still need to receive 50 votes on the Senate floor to be confirmed.

It's unclear so far if Blanche, who is Trump's former personal attorney, will clear that bar. Several GOP senators have not committed to voting for Blanche. They include Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Blanche can only afford to lose two GOP votes to be confirmed, given Republicans' 53-47 majority and the extended medical absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.