President Donald Trump says he may pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for a full-time attorney general role unless certain Republican senators who have raised concerns leave office. Multiple outlets report that Trump is linking any decision to withdraw the nomination to the timing of Senate departures, with NBC News describing the target as January, when two GOP senators who have expressed concerns are expected to step down. PBS NewsHour similarly reports Trump’s threat to temporarily pull the nomination as Republicans seek concessions.
According to the Star Tribune, Trump’s remarks focus on avoiding concessions that Senate Republicans have demanded. The demands are described as limits related to a sweeping tax immunity agreement and potential payouts for Trump allies that Trump negotiated with his own Department of Justice. Yahoo News repeats that Trump says he may pull the nomination until dissenting senators leave office.
Taken together, the accounts depict a dispute over whether Senate Republicans will require changes to aspects of Trump’s DOJ-linked negotiations before they support Blanche’s confirmation.
