Todd Blanche Faces Senate Scrutiny Over DOJ Controversies in Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche faced intense bipartisan questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee as he sought confirmation to lead the Department of Justice on a permanent basis.

The hearing lasted approximately five hours and focused heavily on controversies that emerged during Blanche’s leadership at the department. Senators questioned him about the release of documents connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a proposed US$1.8 billion compensation fund and an agreement that could have protected President Donald Trump and his family from audits involving previous tax years.

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April 2026 after Trump removed Pam Bondi from the position. Trump formally nominated Blanche in June, following his earlier service as deputy attorney general and his previous role as one of the president’s criminal defence lawyers.

During the hearing, Blanche acknowledged that the Justice Department made mistakes when releasing millions of pages connected to its past Epstein investigations. Some documents reportedly failed to properly conceal information that could identify victims, although Blanche said officials attempted to correct the errors after they were discovered.

Several Epstein survivors attended the hearing. Blanche said the department was prepared to meet victims and consider new investigations if credible evidence emerged against individuals who may have participated in Epstein’s criminal activities. He also maintained that prosecutors would pursue any person who could be investigated and charged based on new evidence.

Another major issue involved the proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which would have provided approximately US$1.8 billion to people claiming that they had been unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. The proposal drew opposition from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Under questioning from Republican Senator John Cornyn, Blanche confirmed that the proposed fund was no longer moving forward. However, senators raised concerns that the settlement establishing the fund had not been formally withdrawn. Blanche said the department would accept additional legal safeguards to ensure that the programme could not be revived.

Cornyn also challenged Blanche over another section of the agreement that could have exempted Trump and members of his family from Internal Revenue Service audits involving previous tax returns. Cornyn described the arrangement as unusual and questioned whether it offered special treatment to the president.

The proposed settlement had already faced criticism from US District Judge Kathleen Williams. According to the report, Williams accused Trump and the Justice Department of attempting to use the court to legitimise an agreement that would not have survived proper judicial review. She also referred Trump’s lawyers for potential sanctions and sent her decision to the New York State Bar for possible disciplinary consideration involving Blanche.

Blanche rejected the judge’s suggestions and argued that the Justice Department had not been given an adequate opportunity to respond before the order was issued. The judge, however, said the department had more than 100 days to formally enter the case but failed to do so.

Lawmakers also pressed Blanche over his personal and professional relationship with Trump. Blanche previously represented Trump in criminal proceedings before entering the Justice Department, raising questions about whether he could exercise independent judgment as the country’s chief law-enforcement official.

Blanche told senators that Trump trusted him to provide legal advice, but insisted that loyalty did not make him a “yes man.” He said he would not violate his constitutional oath if he were ever directed to take an illegal or unethical action.

However, Blanche rejected the broader argument that the Justice Department should operate independently from the White House. He maintained that the department falls under the president’s constitutional executive authority, a position that intensified concerns among Democrats about potential political interference in federal investigations.

More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees reportedly opposed Blanche’s nomination, arguing that his leadership had placed Trump’s personal and political interests ahead of the department’s traditional responsibilities. Blanche denied that the department was being used to target political opponents and presented himself as an independent legal adviser committed to public safety and constitutional principles.

His confirmation remains uncertain. Blanche will likely require support from every Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee because Democrats are expected to vote against advancing the nomination. Republican concerns regarding the proposed compensation fund, tax agreement and his relationship with Trump could become decisive.

If approved by the committee, the nomination would proceed to a vote before the full Senate. Administration officials are reportedly seeking confirmation before lawmakers begin their August recess.