Cornyn blocks Trump attorney general nominee using committee vote

Republican Senator John Cornyn blocked Trump's attorney general pick Todd Blanche from moving forward in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate then left Washington on Thursday without resolving the nomination.

Cornyn is leaving the Senate soon and will not face voters again. This has given him more freedom to act against his own party's president. He said he was not acting out of personal anger. Instead, he wanted to protect other Republicans who share his concerns but are afraid to speak publicly.

Many Republican senators have privately disagreed with Trump's decisions before, but they have usually stayed quiet to avoid political damage. Cornyn's position as a departing senator means he no longer has that pressure holding him back.