An outgoing Republican senior senator brushed aside a dig by President Donald Trump as a "convenient excuse" for recent frustrations. Cornyn has remained silent on whether he'll vote to confirm Blanche, who can't afford to lose even one Republican vote if every Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee votes against his confirmation. "Think that's a convenient excuse for not cooperating with the judiciary committee," Cornyn said. Blanche's path narrowed sharply after Sen. Lindsey Graham's death left Judiciary Committee Republicans with just one vote to lose. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has said he won't support Blanche unless he agrees to meet personally with women abused by Jeffrey Epstein.