Senator John Cornyn (R) questioned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, raising concerns about a settlement agreement involving President Donald Trump and the IRS while also seeking the administration's plans to address mail-order distribution of the abortion drug mifepristone.
Cornyn questions IRS settlement agreement.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Todd Blanche's nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney General, Sen. Cornyn questioned Blanche about the settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Cornyn noted the unique responsibilities of the attorney general, balancing service in the president's Cabinet with the duty to independently enforce federal law.
Sen. John Cornyn: "The Attorney General has the hardest job in Washington, D.C., because you are at the same time a member of the President's Cabinet...but then you also have a duty as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States."
Questions focus on settlement provisions.
Cornyn asked whether the settlement agreement could be enforced as a contract, including provisions related to the anti-weaponization fund.
Blanche responded that the agreement is an enforceable document and could potentially be subject to legal action if one party alleged a breach.
Cornyn also questioned the language in the agreement that references "lawfare" and "weaponization," arguing that those terms are not clearly defined in federal law or statute.
Blanch acknowledged he was not aware of any legal definitions for those terms.
Concerns over mail-order abortion drugs
Cornyn also discussed the Biden administration's policy allowing mifepristone to be prescribed without an in-person medical visit.
Referring to a letter he recently sent with Sen. Thom Tillis, Cornyn asked Blanch whether the administration would respond regarding its plans to revisit the policy.
Cornyn argued that mail-order access to the drug raises safety concerns for women, citing potential complications including:
- Heavy bleeding.
- Infection or sepsis.
- Incomplete abortion.
- Other medical complications.
When asked whether he would respond to the senator's letter outlining the administration's intentions, Blanche agreed.
