Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Faces Contentious Senate Confirmation Hearing
Todd Blanche, Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, endured tough questioning from lawmakers on Wednesday about his handling of the Epstein files, the controversial anti-weaponization fund, and potential weaponization of DOJ against political opponents. His confirmation is in doubt as Republicans have only a razor-thin majority.
High-Stakes Confirmation Hearing
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing to lead the Justice Department in a permanent capacity, where he faced tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans about his tenure so far. During today's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Todd Blanche attempted to navigate the awkward reality of him being both the acting attorney general and a former defense lawyer for Donald Trump.
Key Areas of Scrutiny
Blanche acknowledged that "mistakes that were made" during the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and apologized to survivors whose personal information was not redacted from the documents. But he declined to commit to meeting with survivors personally. Lawmakers also pressed him on subpoenas issued on Friday that seek to force New York Times reporters to testify before a federal grand jury, raising concerns about the possible weaponization of the Justice Department.
Narrow Path to Confirmation
Blanche's confirmation isn't assured as he faces an even more narrow Senate margin. Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death left the Judiciary Committee Republicans with just one vote to lose. GOP Sen. Thom Tillis explained that he's leaning yes on advancing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to lead the Justice Department, but he first needs to see President Donald Trump endorse a legislative move to kill the proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund once and for all.
Trump's Support
In a social media post on the eve of the confirmation hearing, Trump again lauded Blanche, saying: "He is a great lawyer, always very fair, and every Republican Senator should vote to CONFIRM Todd Blanche, ASAP!" The hearing will continue with outside witnesses expected to testify Thursday.