Todd Blanche faces fiery questions from Senate in bid to lead DOJ

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced fierce questions Wednesday from Senate lawmakers tasked with confirming him as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced fierce questions Wednesday from Senate lawmakers tasked with confirming him as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.

WASHINGTON —

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, defending his record and addressing concerns from lawmakers while seeking confirmation to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Above all, we are restoring American trust,” Blanche said in his opening statement to lawmakers on the panel. “In recent years, we watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public’s faith and justice. We are fixing that.”

Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, attempted to distance himself from the role.

“Are you and President Trump friends?” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked during the hearing.

“I’m his lawyer — was his lawyer, and now I’m the deputy attorney general,” Blanche replied.

Throughout the hearing, Democrats pressed Blanche on the DOJ’s previous handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, urging him to meet with victims, and questioned his defense of Trump’s pardoning of hundreds of convicted Jan. 6 rioters.

Many raised concerns about whether Blanche would ensure transparency in the DOJ’s actions.

“It’s absolutely false to suggest that this department is not executing as we should in doing the right thing every single day,” Blanche said.

“I will tell you that you are wrong,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said in one contentious exchange.

At least one Republican senator, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, appeared to question Blanche about the president’s anti-weaponization fund, intended to compensate individuals allegedly targeted by the U.S government.

Blanche confirmed the fund was no longer under consideration.

“You have said that the weaponization fund is a moot issue. Is that your position?” Cornyn asked.

“Yes, it is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund,” Blanche said.

While some Republicans expressed concerns, others praised Blanche’s experience and commitment to follow the law.

“The motto of the Department of Justice is ‘who prosecutes on behalf of justice,’ not who prosecutes on behalf of a political agenda or to target someone who prosecutes on behalf of justice,” Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., said. “You stood up and took on that responsibility.”

Blanche’s confirmation remains uncertain. The recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has left Republicans with a narrow 11-10 majority against Democrats on the committee.

Republican Sens. Cornyn and Thom Tillis of North Carolina remained potential holdouts Wednesday afternoon, though Tillis said during the hearing that Blanche was doing “very well” and indicated his vote may depend on Blanche providing assurances that the anti-weaponization fund would not be revived.

Blanche said he “absolutely” would.

Watch more on Blanche’s hearing: