Todd Blanche faces a critical test today as he seeks Senate confirmation to become the nation's top law enforcement official. The hearing, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, will determine whether the former personal lawyer to President Trump can secure enough votes to lead the Justice Department permanently.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, when Trump removed his first attorney general, Pam Bondi, and elevated Blanche from his position as the department's second-ranking official. He previously won Senate confirmation for that deputy role early in Trump's second term, but his path to the top position appears far more uncertain.
Democrats have united in opposition to the nomination, which means Blanche must retain nearly unanimous Republican support in a Senate where the party holds only a narrow majority. A single Republican vote against him in the Senate Judiciary Committee could derail the nomination entirely.
The primary source of Republican concern centers on Blanche's role in establishing a nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund as part of a settlement agreement with Trump. That settlement resolved the president's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over leaked tax returns. Following bipartisan criticism, Blanche announced the fund would not move forward, though provisions shielding Trump, his family, and his businesses from IRS audits of past returns remain intact.
On Monday, a federal judge issued a sharp rebuke of the Justice Department regarding the settlement, characterizing it as an attempt to "earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law," according to NPR.
Two Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, have publicly questioned the settlement. Their votes will prove crucial during today's proceedings.
Democratic lawmakers have accused Blanche of dismantling the traditional independence between the Justice Department and the White House. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee's ranking Democrat, stated last month that when Blanche sought confirmation for the deputy position, he emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the department's independence from political influence.
"Regrettably, over the past year, he has disregarded that call and erased that line, placing loyalty to President Trump above all else and damaging the independence and credibility of the department in ways that will have ramifications for decades," Durbin said, according to NPR.
During his tenure as acting attorney general, Blanche has overseen aggressive prosecutions of individuals Trump has identified as political adversaries. The department announced indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that has drawn conservative criticism. The department also initiated an investigation related to lawsuits that writer E. Jean Carroll successfully brought against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation.
Approximately 1,200 former Justice Department employees have signed a letter urging the Senate to reject Blanche's nomination. The letter, organized by Justice Connection, a nonprofit that provides legal and ethics assistance to department workers, accuses Blanche of terminating career attorneys, agents, and analysts for improper and unlawful reasons.
The signatories warn that these personnel actions have compromised the department's effectiveness. "They've meant that much of the department's vital work isn't being done, or isn't being done as well — leaving communities less safe, Americans' rights less protected, and our national security more vulnerable," the letter states, as reported by NPR.
Blanche has dismissed the criticism as representing a small fraction of the department's workforce. In an interview with an Alaska television station, he noted that 1,200 former employees constitute a minimal percentage of the department's approximately 40,000 personnel. He indicated his willingness to address questions from senators of both parties regarding his nomination.
Republican support for Blanche remains mixed. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has endorsed the nomination, describing Blanche as "well qualified" and praising his dedication to restoring law and order. The National Association of Police Organizations has also expressed support, citing Blanche's partnership with law enforcement.
Trump praised Blanche in May, stating he was "doing a great job" leading the Justice Department, according to NPR. On the eve of today's hearing, the president posted on social media urging Republican senators to confirm Blanche immediately, calling him "a great lawyer, always very fair."
The confirmation hearing represents a pivotal moment for the Justice Department's future direction and its relationship with the executive branch. The outcome will depend on whether Blanche can address Republican concerns about the IRS settlement while defending his record against Democratic accusations of politicizing federal law enforcement.
