Todd Blanche Defends Trump’s $10 Billion IRS Release as AG Confirmation Faces New Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Jul 24
Todd Blanche Defends Trump’s $10 Billion IRS Release as AG Confirmation Faces New Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Jul 24
Summary
$10 billion in Trump IRS claims moved back into focus after Todd Blanche told senators the May 19 release order remains in effect, despite a federal judge’s order barring Trump from relying on the settlement.
Blanche’s written answers deepened concerns because he signed the release and repeatedly declined to clarify language covering Trump family members, affiliates and matters before other agencies beyond the IRS and Treasury.
Senators from both parties challenged those terms: Chris Coons said Blanche’s position conflicts with Judge Kathleen Williams’s ruling, while John Cornyn said he did not read the agreement as narrowly as Blanche described it.
The dispute cuts to Blanche’s fitness to lead the Justice Department, with critics arguing his defense of a release granting broad benefits to his former client shows loyalty to Trump over judicial authority and DOJ independence.
Who actually negotiated the unprecedented billion-dollar settlement if the acting Attorney General claims he never discussed the deal with the plaintiff?