A contentious two-day hearing ended Thursday with uncertainty over whether the Senate will confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general.
Questions over Mr. Blanche’s role in a Department of Justice anti-weaponization fund and in handling the Epstein files have left at least two Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee undecided. If just one votes no, that could block the acting attorney general’s nomination from moving forward. A vote is likely later this month.
The hearings reflected some members’ concerns that President Donald Trump has sought to use the Justice Department to achieve his own political ends, even as other Republicans argue that the executive branch agency should reflect the president’s priorities.
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Several senators, including Republicans, pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during his confirmation hearing on high-profile issues such as the Epstein investigation and whether he could act independently of President Donald Trump, who was once his client.
“I don’t know where my colleagues are,” said Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who supports Mr. Blanche, in an interview Thursday. “I know there’s a couple who have expressed reservations.”
One of those is North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who said Thursday he wouldn’t support the nominee unless Mr. Blanche meets personally with women harmed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Another key to whether Mr. Blanche’s nomination goes to the full Senate is Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary in March after President Trump endorsed his opponent.
Senator Cornyn raised concerns at the hearing about a nearly $2 billion fund the Justice Department created in May as part of a deal Mr. Trump reached with the Internal Revenue Service after suing over leaks of his tax returns. The fund would have paid damages to people who say the federal government was “weaponized” against them.
After bipartisan backlash, Mr. Blanche testified in a hearing last month that the fund was not moving forward. However, Mr. Trump called the fund “a beautiful thing” the next day, and said he would have to “ask the lawyers” if it was dead or just on hold.
On Wednesday, the first day of Mr. Blanche’s hearing, he again said the fund was “dead.” Mr. Cornyn questioned why Mr. Trump has not put that in writing. Mr. Blanche replied that Mr. Trump didn’t need to, as the fund would have been administered through the Justice Department.
In another notable moment, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana asked Mr. Blanche if he and the president were friends.
“I’m his lawyer,” replied Mr. Blanche, before quickly correcting, “I was his lawyer.” Mr. Blanche was Mr. Trump’s personal defense lawyer before Mr. Trump was reelected in 2024. The attorney general represents the United States government.
“He’s going to be Donald Trump’s consigliere, his personal lawyer, as he himself allowed to slip,” said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
Some legal analysts say Mr. Blanche could remain in his position until Mr. Trump’s term ends even if not confirmed by the Senate. That’s because Mr. Blanche had been deputy attorney general, who is authorized to exercise the duties of the attorney general if that office is vacant. Legal experts dispute whether that authorization comes with a 250-day time limit.
The position became open when Mr. Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. Senator Hawley says letting Mr. Blanche remain as acting attorney general is “the only alternative” if he isn’t confirmed.
“I think there’s no Cabinet position that’s more important than the AG,” he said.