Topline
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration’s actions Wednesday—including its handling of the Epstein files—as he faces his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as Democratic lawmakers immediately criticized the former Trump attorney for his personal allegiance to the president.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche gets sworn in at his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill July 15 in Washington, DC.
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Key Facts
In his opening statement, Blanche claimed the Trump administration’s Justice Department was restoring the public’s “faith in justice” after purported missteps by the Biden Administration, defending the DOJ’s actions and saying of its work, “None of this is Republican or Democrat.”
Blanche also defended the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files and release of the documents, claiming the White House “has been more transparent than any past administration” about releasing the files and that it will prosecute anyone who harmed victims.
He also faced repeated questioning Wednesday about President Donald Trump’s controversial settlement with the IRS, claiming agreements like the one that gave Trump broad immunity from IRS audits are “done regularly” and reiterating claims that the administration’s planned $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund “is dead.”
Blanche immediately came under fire from Democrats on Wednesday as the hearing began, with Durbin, the committee’s ranking member, accusing him of “corruption” in the lawmaker’s opening statement.
What Did Todd Blanche Say About The Epstein Files?
Blanche said Wednesday the DOJ had undertaken a “herculean task” by going through all its documents to release the Epstein files, defending the agency’s handling of the documents even as it’s come under fire for numerous issues with redactions and documents that weren’t released. The nominee claimed the DOJ had lawyers on call “24/7” to fix issues with victims’ names not being redacted in the files, saying, “That doesn’t excuse the mistakes, for which I take responsibility,” but the DOJ “tried to fix them.” Under questioning from Durbin, Blanche claimed he was not allowed legally to meet with victims directly, pointing to potential ethics issues, but claimed he would meet with any representatives or anyone else he was legally able to meet, or offered to have his deputies meet with victims. He also claimed the DOJ had no “closed investigations” and was still willing to prosecute anyone shown to have been involved with Epstein’s abuse, telling Durbin, “I would love to prosecute anyone who did any harm.” He also claimed the DOJ was legally barred from releasing the Epstein files on its own without Congress’ authorization—though courts have previously said that argument is false.
What Did Blanche Say About Trump’s IRS Settlement?
Blanche broadly defended the president’s controversial settlement with the IRS, which was struck down by a judge Monday, with the judge also blasting Blanche directly and referring him and other attorneys for potential discipline over the agreement. It included provisions that established a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and appeared to give Trump and his family widespread legal immunity. Blanche denied to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, that the immunity deal went beyond protections from prosecutions, civil action or tax audits from the IRS and Treasury Department, despite language in the deal that wraps in other government agencies. “I hear what you’re saying, but I certainly don’t read that in the agreement,” Cornyn responded. Blanche reiterated the fund was “not moving forward” as doubts about its future still remain an issue, given reporting that suggests the DOJ is still trying to find other ways to get money to political allies. He also said he had not spoken directly with Trump or his attorneys about the settlement agreement and other DOJ officials were responsible for drafting it, claiming he had only spoken with Trump when they agreed to kill the fund.
What to Watch for
After Blanche’s confirmation hearing, the acting attorney general’s nomination will be voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee and then by the full Senate, where he’ll need a majority vote to be confirmed. There’s so far no indication that Blanche faces any serious threat of not being confirmed, even as some Republicans like Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have expressed some concerns about his role in crafting President Donald Trump’s now-defunct settlement with the IRS. Tillis told CNN on Tuesday the Trump administration’s “anti-weaponization” fund for political allies in that settlement has to be “certainly and completely ended for me to feel comfortable with moving forward” on Blanche’s confirmation.
Chief Critics
Along with Democrats who have opposed Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, his promotion to AG has also drawn widespread opposition from others, including victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the New York City Bar Association and former DOJ officials. More than 1,200 former DOJ staffers sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging lawmakers to reject Blanche’s confirmation, arguing he had “utterly failed to abide by” his oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” Blanche’s experience at the DOJ and knowledge of the agency’s importance hadn’t stopped him from “demonizing career employees, undermining their work, and driving them out of the department,” the former employees wrote.
Who Is Todd Blanche?
Blanche worked at the DOJ in a variety of roles before he went into private practice, where he came into the public spotlight as one of Trump’s personal attorneys during the president’s years out of office. Blanche most notably represented Trump in the president’s criminal trial in Manhattan, where he was convicted for falsification of business records, but also represented Trump in other cases, including the federal government’s prosecution of Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents. (That case has now been dismissed.) Trump appointed Blanche to serve as deputy attorney general for the DOJ when he started his second term in the White House, drawing controversy for appointing his personal lawyer. Blanche was then promoted to acting attorney general after Trump fired former AG Pam Bondi in April, and the president named him to serve in the position permanently.
Tangent
The seat traditionally occupied by late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member and former leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was draped in black and adorned with white roses Wednesday following the senator’s sudden death over the weekend.