Todd Blanche's loyalty to Trump questioned in Senate confirmation hearing
News Source
β’Wed, 15 Jul 2026 17:14:07 +0000
π° What Happened
The Senate Judiciary Committee began two days of confirmation hearings for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is seeking to become the permanent head of the Department of Justice. Blanche faced intense scrutiny over his loyalty to President Donald Trump and his role in controversial actions including prosecuting Trump's political rivals and overseeing a settlement that shielded Trump from tax investigations.
π The Backstory
Todd Blanche served as Donald Trump's personal lawyer, representing him in the New York state trial that resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. He joined Trump's second administration in March 2025 as deputy attorney general before becoming acting attorney general after Pam Bondi's resignation in April 2026. Blanche has overseen the prosecution of former FBI director James Comey and a controversial civil settlement between Trump and the IRS that created a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponisation fund' β a settlement a federal judge has since voided. Senator Lindsey Graham's death has left the confirmation on a knife's edge, as only one Republican defection could sink the nomination. Critics argue Blanche has continued to act as Trump's personal attorney rather than an independent prosecutor, while Blanche insists he is restoring trust in the Justice Department.
π― Why It Matters
The confirmation hearing represents a symbolic referendum on whether the Department of Justice under Trump has maintained prosecutorial independence. If Blanche is confirmed, it would cement Trump's control over federal law enforcement and signal Senate approval of a radically politicized Justice Department. If rejected, it would be a rare bipartisan rebuke of presidential authority over the DOJ.
The Senate Judiciary Committee began two days of confirmation hearings for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is seeking to become the permanent head of the Department of Justice. Blanche faced intense scrutiny over his loyalty to President Donald Trump and his role in controversial actions including prosecuting Trump's political rivals and overseeing a settlement that shielded Trump from tax investigations.
Todd Blanche served as Donald Trump's personal lawyer, representing him in the New York state trial that resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. He joined Trump's second administration in March 2025 as deputy attorney general before becoming acting attorney general after Pam Bondi's resignation in April 2026. Blanche has overseen the prosecution of former FBI director James Comey and a controversial civil settlement between Trump and the IRS that created a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponisation fund' β a settlement a federal judge has since voided. Senator Lindsey Graham's death has left the confirmation on a knife's edge, as only one Republican defection could sink the nomination. Critics argue Blanche has continued to act as Trump's personal attorney rather than an independent prosecutor, while Blanche insists he is restoring trust in the Justice Department.
The confirmation hearing represents a symbolic referendum on whether the Department of Justice under Trump has maintained prosecutorial independence. If Blanche is confirmed, it would cement Trump's control over federal law enforcement and signal Senate approval of a radically politicized Justice Department. If rejected, it would be a rare bipartisan rebuke of presidential authority over the DOJ.