Trump pick for AG Blanche faces final hurdle before Senate confirmation vote

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a crucial procedural hurdle Tuesday morning when the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination to lead the Justice Department permanently in a 12-10, party-line vote.

The vote comes after Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) said Monday that they would vote for Blanche during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Tuesday meeting, resolving an impasse that forced the panel to postpone consideration of his nomination last week. The committee considered Blanche’s nomination as its only agenda item ahead of the start of the August recess later this week.