Todd Blanche’s loyalty to Trump questioned in Senate confirmation hearing

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Todd Blanche, the interim Attorney General, is facing intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearing as he seeks to lead the Department of Justice. The hearing is a critical moment for the agency, which has been at the center of controversy in recent years. Blanche's loyalty to President Donald Trump is a major concern, with many questioning whether he will be able to protect the independence of the Department of Justice.

Blanche's background is closely tied to Trump's administration. He served as the Republican leader's personal lawyer and represented him in several high-profile cases, including a New York state trial that resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Blanche's appointment as acting attorney general was a result of the resignation of Pam Bondi, and he has been overseeing the Justice Department's handling of several high-profile cases, including the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Critics have questioned whether members of the Trump administration have attempted to shield powerful figures through excessive or inconsistent redactions in the published files. Trump himself had a previous relationship with Epstein, and Blanche's handling of the case has been a subject of controversy.

During the hearing, Blanche attempted to head off concerns about his loyalty to Trump by claiming that he was fixing what was previously wrong with the department. He pointed to FBI data showing violent crime dropping in the US in 2025 and highlighted the Justice Department's efforts to combat cartels and drug trafficking.

However, Blanche echoed Trump's assertions that the Justice Department was 'weaponised' against Trump and his allies prior to the Republican leader's second term. He claimed that the department was 'turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public's faith in justice.'

The hearing is a symbolic referendum on the Department of Justice under Trump, with many questioning whether the agency has been leveraged for political aims. Legal scholars have also argued that, even without confirmation, Trump could keep Blanche in an acting capacity for months to come.

Blanche's confirmation remains on a knife's edge, with only one Republican on the committee needed to break ranks to scuttle the process. Both Senator Thom Tillis and Senator John Cornyn are seen as the most likely to oppose Blanche, with Cornyn taking particular issue with the civil settlement reached between Trump and the IRS.

The settlement granted Trump and his family protection from tax investigations, while creating a nearly $1.8bn 'anti-weaponisation fund' for alleged victims of political prosecutions. Blanche has said the fund has been abandoned, but a federal judge on Tuesday voided the settlement, accusing participants like Blanche of bending court rules and norms to serve the president's interests.

The hearing is a critical moment for the Department of Justice, and the outcome will have significant implications for the agency's independence and integrity.