Takeaways from Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general
Todd Blanche, President Trump's nominee for attorney general, faced a challenging Senate confirmation hearing regarding his role in past Justice Department settlements. His path to confirmation remains uncertain as he seeks to secure full Republican support.
Why it matters
The confirmation of an attorney general is a critical check on executive power and influences the future direction of federal law enforcement and judicial policy.
Todd Blanche, President Trump's pick for attorney general, faced tough questioning — from Democrats and some Republicans — over issues that have dogged the Justice Department for the past 18 months.
Blanche, currently the acting attorney general, had won Senate confirmation early in Trump's second term to serve as deputy attorney general. But after facing hours in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, Blanche's confirmation to the top job is not assured. He needs the support of all Republicans for the nomination to clear the committee.
While Blanche remained composed throughout the hearing, there were a handful of testy moments during questioning. Here are three takeaways:
Earlier this year, a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund was established as part of a settlement with Trump to end his lawsuit against the IRS over his leaked tax returns.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in