Todd Blanche attempted to distance himself from his previous role as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer as senators questioned whether he could independently lead the Department of Justice.
Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April, appeared Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Trump seeks to make his appointment permanent. The hearing focused heavily on a withdrawn $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” tax protections involving Trump and his businesses, the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files and the treatment of January 6 defendants.
Blanche told senators that his relationship with Trump would not prevent him from enforcing the law. He said he had disagreed with the president in the past and would resign rather than follow an illegal or unethical instruction.
“Counsel does not mean I’m a yes man,” Blanche said.
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However, one exchange highlighted how closely Blanche remains associated with Trump. Asked by Republican Senator John Kennedy whether he and the president were friends, Blanche initially replied, “I’m his lawyer,” before correcting himself to say that he was Trump’s lawyer.
Blanche represented Trump in several criminal cases before joining the Justice Department as deputy attorney general in 2025. He became acting attorney general after Trump removed Pam Bondi in April and was formally nominated for the permanent position in June.
One of the most difficult exchanges involved Republican Senator John Cornyn, who questioned Blanche about a settlement arising from Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the release of his tax records.
The agreement included the proposed $1.776 billion fund, which was intended to compensate people claiming they had been unfairly targeted by the federal justice system. Critics from both parties argued that the vaguely defined fund could primarily benefit Trump allies.
Blanche said the fund had been abandoned and was “not moving forward.” Cornyn noted, however, that Trump had not agreed in writing to remove it from the settlement and questioned whether it could be revived through future litigation.
The settlement also contained provisions protecting Trump, members of his family and related businesses from certain tax audits involving conduct before the agreement. Blanche defended that provision and denied that it placed the president above the law.
A federal judge recently criticized the lawsuit and settlement, concluding that the court process had been improperly used to benefit Trump and his allies. The judge referred Blanche and other lawyers involved to state bar authorities for review of possible ethics issues. Blanche said he strongly disagreed with the judge’s conclusions.
The Epstein files created another major area of questioning.
The Justice Department’s document release contained redaction failures that exposed identifying information and images involving potential victims. Blanche acknowledged that mistakes had occurred and said approximately 1% of the released records required corrections. He maintained that the department fixed problems after discovering them and described the wider release as an unprecedented act of transparency.
When senators asked whether he would meet personally with Epstein survivors, Blanche said other Justice Department and FBI officials may be better positioned to do so. He nevertheless promised that prosecutors would pursue any credible evidence of previously uncharged criminal conduct found in the files.
“If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month that there’s an individual that we can investigate, indict and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe we will,” Blanche said.
Blanche also faced questions about Trump’s clemency for more than 1,500 January 6 defendants, including people convicted of attacking police officers. He defended the president’s constitutional pardon authority but said he was not celebrating violence against law enforcement.
“I have never said that any sort of violence against law enforcement is appropriate,” Blanche said.
Democratic senators argued that the Justice Department has removed experienced career personnel and increasingly pursued investigations involving Trump’s political opponents. Blanche countered that the department was correcting damage caused by investigations of Trump during the previous administration and restoring public confidence in federal law enforcement.
His confirmation may depend on Republicans who have publicly expressed concern about his record. Following Lindsey Graham’s death, the Judiciary Committee is divided between 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. If Democrats remain united against Blanche, one Republican defection could prevent the nomination from advancing through the committee.
Why It Matters
The attorney general controls a department that oversees federal prosecutions, the FBI and investigations involving national security, civil rights, public corruption and presidential power.
Blanche’s nomination therefore tests whether senators believe a former personal lawyer to the president can operate as the country’s chief law-enforcement official rather than as a political defender of Trump.
The answers could also affect public confidence in the Justice Department at a time when both parties accuse federal prosecutors of selective or politically motivated enforcement.
What Comes Next
The Senate Judiciary Committee will continue considering Blanche’s nomination before deciding whether to send it to the full Senate.
Cornyn and other undecided Republicans may seek written assurances that the compensation fund cannot return and additional explanations about the tax settlement, Epstein records and Justice Department personnel decisions. Without nearly unanimous Republican support, Blanche’s confirmation could face significant obstacles.
Todd Blanche faced questions about whether he would personally meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse.
🚨 NOW: Sen. Dick Durbin (D) just used Epstein victims seated at AG Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing as POLITICAL PROPS
DURBIN: Under oath within the next 30 days can you promise to hear their case?!
BLANCHE: I have NEVER said I will not meet with survivors! If they have… pic.twitter.com/eHfhQ4P7ZE
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 15, 2026
