Todd Blanche faces high-stakes confirmation hearing for attorney general
Todd Blanche, President Trump's nominee for Attorney General, faces a difficult Senate confirmation hearing amid bipartisan concerns over his past actions. Key issues include his role in a controversial anti-weaponization fund and the broader politicization of the Justice Department.
Why it matters
The confirmation of an Attorney General is a critical check on executive power, and Blanche's narrow path to approval reflects deep divisions in the Senate.
Todd Blanche, President Trump's former personal lawyer and his pick for attorney general, is set to appear for what could be a contentious confirmation hearing Wednesday amid questions about his handling of the Epstein files, the targeting of Trump's political foes and the broader politicization of justice.
Blanche previously won Senate confirmation early in Trump's second term to serve as the No. 2 official at the Justice Department, but it is unclear whether he can muster enough support this time to be confirmed for the top job.
The confirmation hearing is set to start at 9 a.m. ET. Watch it live:
Democrats appear unified in opposition to his nomination. That leaves Blanche's fate in the hands of a small number of Republicans who have voiced concerns about some of his actions at the department and could torpedo his nomination in the Senate, where the Republican Party has a razor-thin majority.
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