The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday postponed a vote on the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) rescheduled the vote for next week, noting the delay followed standard committee procedures and occurred as several Republican members were absent from the session.
Democratic members, led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), stated their opposition to Blanche, citing his previous work as a personal defense attorney for President Donald Trump. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) also held a forum Wednesday where witnesses raised concerns regarding Blanche's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files and his role in managing a $1.8 billion fund established following a settlement between the Trump administration and the IRS. Blanche served as a federal prosecutor in New York from 2006 to 2014 before entering private practice and later joining the Justice Department as deputy attorney general in early 2025.
Chairman Grassley defended the nominee, stating the Justice Department has performed effectively under Blanche's leadership as acting attorney general. The committee also welcomed its newest member, Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), who filled the vacancy left by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. The committee's current 12-10 Republican majority requires a simple majority vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate floor. Following the postponement, observers noted that the votes of Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (NC) and John Cornyn (TX) remain unconfirmed after both previously questioned Blanche regarding the administration's fiscal policies.