Senate Judiciary Committee member Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, has stated he will support Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination but cautioned that any indication of diminished independence within the Justice Department could sway his decision.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” program ahead of Blanche’s confirmation hearings set for July 15 and 16, Tillis expressed a positive inclination toward Blanche. He noted that Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney who assumed acting Attorney General duties after dismissing Pam Bondi in April, was instrumental in the Justice Department halting its criminal investigation into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Tillis, who blocked the confirmation of Kevin Warsh — Powell’s successor — while an ongoing probe ran from January through late April, indicated his support is conditional. He warned that if he detects “even a whiff” that the Justice Department would lack independence under Blanche, his vote could be affected.
The senator also highlighted the Justice Department’s abandoned “1776 fund” as a critical issue requiring resolution prior to Blanche’s nomination. Tillis objected to the proposal, arguing it risked diverting taxpayer funds to individuals convicted of assaulting police during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Following Trump’s dismissal of Bondi in April, Tillis stated he would not support any attorney general nominee who softened their stance on January 6.
After meeting with Blanche on Thursday, Tillis described the discussion as “good” and praised Blanche’s “very competent” legal acumen. However, he emphasized that the administration must fully discontinue the fund — a measure the president and others have deemed inoperative — before Blanche’s confirmation.
“Let’s just put it away,” Tillis added. “The president, the acting attorney general, others in the administration said they have determined it’s inoperative. Let’s make it inoperative.”
