Todd Blanche’s bid to become the next US attorney general faced a major setback on Wednesday after a key Senate vote was postponed. The delay came after some Republican senators said they still needed answers from the Department of Justice before moving forward with Blanche’s nomination. The Senate Judiciary Committee had planned to vote on Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination. However, the committee announced that the vote would not take place as scheduled. According to a committee statement, Chairman Chuck Grassley decided to postpone the meeting while efforts continue to gain enough support for Blanche. The statement said some senators want written assurances from the Department of Justice about a controversial settlement linked to former President Donald Trump. Blanche is currently serving as acting US attorney general. He previously worked as Trump’s personal lawyer. To secure the position permanently, he must first clear the Senate Judiciary Committee. At the center of the dispute is a settlement agreement tied to a lawsuit involving the Internal Revenue Service. The federal government agreed to settle a lawsuit that Trump filed against the IRS after his tax returns were leaked without authorization. The lawsuit sought damages of about $10 billion. As part of the settlement, a fund worth $1.8 billion was created. The fund was intended to compensate people who claim they were harmed by what they describe as government weaponization. The agreement also included tax audit protections for Trump, members of his family, and related business entities for tax matters filed before the settlement was reached. The settlement quickly drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle. Critics questioned the size of the fund and the broad protections included in the agreement. One of the most important voices in the current debate is Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas. Cornyn said he would not support Blanche’s nomination until the Department of Justice provides written confirmation that the $1.8 billion fund will not move forward. He also wants written clarification regarding the tax audit protections included in the settlement. Cornyn has expressed concern that the language in the agreement could be interpreted too broadly. He wants to ensure that the protections cannot be extended to future tax matters or applied to people who were not directly involved in the settlement. Speaking to reporters, Cornyn said he remains firm in his position. He indicated that lawmakers have already provided specific changes they want to see. According to Cornyn, the Department of Justice now needs to decide whether it will accept those changes. His stance is especially important because Blanche needs support from every Republican member of the committee to advance his nomination. Without Cornyn’s vote, Blanche’s path forward becomes much more difficult. The controversy has remained a major issue despite previous efforts by Blanche to address concerns. In June, Blanche announced that the Department of Justice would eliminate the fund created under the settlement agreement. However, critics noted that the department did not provide written confirmation of that decision. That lack of written assurance continues to be a concern for several lawmakers. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche was questioned about the settlement and its future impact. He acknowledged that Trump or other parties involved in the agreement could potentially seek to enforce parts of the settlement. Blanche also did not clearly state that the tax audit protections were no longer valid. Those responses left some senators unsatisfied and added to concerns surrounding the nomination process. The settlement itself has also faced legal scrutiny. A federal judge overseeing the case questioned how the lawsuit was handled and suggested that it may have been brought for an improper purpose. The judge’s comments added another layer of attention to an already controversial agreement. For now, the Senate Judiciary Committee has not announced a new date for the vote. Republican lawmakers and the Department of Justice continue discussions as they work toward a possible resolution. Until those concerns are addressed, Blanche’s nomination remains uncertain. The coming days could determine whether he gains enough support to move one step closer to becoming the permanent US attorney general.