Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Controversial DOJ Initiatives
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced rigorous questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as he seeks confirmation to lead the Justice Department. The hearing, marked by intense partisan divide, centered on Blanche’s stewardship of the department, his involvement in a now-defunct compensation fund for presidential allies, and a controversial legal settlement granting tax immunity to President Donald Trump.
The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and IRS Settlement
A primary point of contention was the proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” an initiative intended to compensate individuals who claimed to have been persecuted by the criminal justice system. While Blanche maintained that the fund is “not moving forward,” lawmakers expressed skepticism regarding the lack of a formal, written commitment to permanently terminate the project.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas pressed Blanche on whether the president might revive the fund in the future. “Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who’s a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ and there’s no guarantee that he won’t raise it in the future?” Cornyn asked. Blanche responded that the president holds no power over the fund, which was to be administered by the DOJ but was never launched.
Simultaneously, Blanche defended a broader settlement with the IRS that remains in effect, which provides President Trump and his family immunity from audits of past tax returns.
Concerns Over Departmental Independence
Blanche, who has led the department on an interim basis since April, faced accusations from Democratic lawmakers that he has transformed the DOJ into a tool for the president’s personal agenda. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware accused Blanche of “prosecuting the president’s political enemies” and firing career personnel, actions Coons noted Blanche had previously pledged to avoid during his earlier confirmation for the department’s number-two role.
When asked by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., about his shift from personal attorney for the president to potential head of the Justice Department, Blanche struggled to define his independence. He acknowledged that if confirmed, he would serve in the president’s Cabinet and that “President Trump can fire me whenever he wants.” However, Blanche insisted he remains an independent voice, stating, “Counsel does not mean I’m a yes man.”
Handling of Epstein Files and Personnel Firings
The hearing also addressed the department’s handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation. Blanche defended the DOJ’s efforts as a “herculean task” but acknowledged “mistakes” regarding the failure to redact some victims’ names. Under pressure from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Blanche offered an apology to the victims, stating, “Any mistake that we made should not have been made.”
Beyond specific policy disputes, the department’s internal morale was a focus.
The Path to Confirmation
Blanche’s confirmation prospects remain precarious. With Democrats unified in their opposition, he requires the support of every Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance.
Key Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, have remained non-committal or have expressed significant reservations. As the hearing concluded, Cornyn told reporters he continues to have concerns and has not yet decided how he will vote.
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