President Trump has responded to Senator John Cornyn's refusal to vote on the nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, calling him a holdout making demands from the Department of Justice.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Thursday on whether to advance Blanche's nomination, which has been a point of contention between the president and Cornyn.
Cornyn has been a vocal opponent of Trump's policies, particularly after losing the Texas Senate primary to Ken Paxton earlier this year. He has continued to make demands from the DOJ regarding language related to restricting Trump's IRS agreement, with Senator Tillis also holding out.
On Tuesday, Cornyn took to social media to express his opposition to Blanche's nomination, stating that there is no "deal" in place and that the DOJ knows what it needs to do.
When asked about Cornyn's refusal to vote for Blanche, Trump responded that he doesn't know what the problem is, but that Blanche is an "outstanding" candidate who has been going through the nomination process "quite nicely."
Trump also suggested that Cornyn may be upset with him because he didn't endorse him during the primary election, in which Cornyn lost to Ken Paxton. Cornyn has faced criticism for lying about his support for Trump during the campaign.
On Wednesday, the DOJ transmitted a new response to Cornyn and Tillis that addressed their concerns, but it's unclear if it will be enough to sway their votes. The Senate Judiciary Committee's decision on Blanche's nomination will be closely watched by both parties.
Cornyn's stance on Blanche's nomination has raised questions about his independence from the president, particularly after losing the primary election. When asked about this, Cornyn quipped that it's clear he's feeling more independent.
