The Senate Judiciary Committee cancelled a planned vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to become US attorney general after two Republican senators withheld their support. The delay matters because the committee’s narrow party balance means opposition from either John Cornyn or Thom Tillis could prevent the nomination from reaching a full Senate vote.

Cornyn and Tillis sought further assurances from the Justice Department about a proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” linked to the settlement of President Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The fund, intended to compensate people alleging wrongdoing by the Justice Department, was reportedly scrapped, but the senators wanted confirmation that it could not be revived; Tillis has also sought a meeting between Blanche and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse.