Acting AG Todd Blanche Faces Tough Confirmation Hearing; Path to Attorney General Remains Uncertain
Todd Blanche Senate confirmation hearing
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche underwent a high-stakes confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Seeking a permanent appointment to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ), Blanche faced five hours of intense questioning from both sides of the aisle regarding his tenure and his past role as a personal attorney for President Donald Trump.
Key Issues Under Scrutiny
Blanche’s nomination remains far from guaranteed, as he requires the support of every Republican member on the committee to advance his candidacy.
Key points of contention included:
The “Anti-Weaponization” Fund: Senators pressed Blanche on the previously proposed $1.776 billion fund intended to compensate targets of political prosecution. While Blanche asserted the fund is effectively “dead,” key GOP senators, including Thom Tillis, stated they require “absolute certainty” that the initiative will not be revived.
Epstein Files: Blanche apologized for “mistakes made” during the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, specifically acknowledging that personal information of survivors was not properly redacted. However, he declined to commit to meeting with survivors personally.
Trump-IRS Settlement: Facing questions from Democrats regarding a controversial tax settlement he signed, Blanche clarified that he did not author the agreement and maintained that it would not provide immunity for the President’s current tax returns.
Journalist Subpoenas: Blanche defended his authorization of subpoenas for New York Times journalists, framing them as “material witnesses” in an investigation into leaked security information rather than targets of government harassment.
Path Forward
The political math for Blanche is challenging. With the committee currently comprised of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, he cannot afford a single defection from his own party. GOP senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, both viewed as critical swing votes, stated they remain undecided or only “lean yes,” pending further assurances from the administration.
Chairman Chuck Grassley concluded the hearing by praising Blanche’s performance, but the committee is expected to continue its review before scheduling a formal vote.
