Todd Blanche, the nominee for U.S. Attorney General and former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. During the confirmation hearing, Blanche addressed questions regarding a previously proposed $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund intended to compensate Trump allies, as well as a settlement granting the president immunity from certain tax audits. Blanche told the committee that the fund was 'dead' but noted the underlying settlement had not been formally rescinded, though he stated there were no plans to enforce it in court.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas expressed ongoing concerns regarding the status of the settlement, telling reporters he remains undecided on his vote. Conversely, Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley praised Blanche's record on reducing violent crime and criticized opposition to the nomination. Blanche defended his independence during the hearing, stating he would provide candid counsel to the president and was not a 'yes man.'
The hearing also focused on the Justice Department's release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Blanche, who oversaw the rollout as acting attorney general, acknowledged mistakes that led to the exposure of some victims' identities. While he committed to prosecuting any criminal conduct revealed in the files, he declined to commit to a personal meeting with Epstein's victims, suggesting other department officials were better suited for that role. More than 1,200 former Department of Justice staffers have reportedly signed a letter opposing his confirmation.