Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing a second day of intense scrutiny from the Senate Judiciary Committee as his confirmation hearing for Attorney General continues, with his path to approval complicated by two key Republican senators who have yet to commit to supporting him.
Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have expressed concerns, primarily regarding an anti-weaponization fund that was part of a settlement during the Trump administration. This fund, intended to compensate individuals claiming to be victims of government "weaponization," has become a central point of contention.
Cornyn indicated he was not ready to make a decision, stating, "I don't know what other information's gonna be coming in. The hearing is not even halfway done. And so, you know, I don't have to make a decision now, so I'm not."
Tillis echoed similar concerns about the anti-weaponization fund, focusing on whether it is definitively defunct. He noted Blanche's affirmative response when asked if he would support legislation to permanently end the fund, suggesting it indicated presidential backing for its termination.
Blanche, who previously served as a defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, also faced questions about the Justice Department's independence, its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, and election fraud complaints. He corrected himself when Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked if he considered himself the president's friend, stating, "I’m his lawyer — was his lawyer, and now I’m the deputy attorney general."
Cornyn commented on Blanche's position, saying, "I think he's trying to walk a very difficult line."
Democrats on the committee have voiced strong opposition. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized Blanche's tenure and representation of Trump, stating, "Anyone who can represent a known pathological liar like Donald Trump can have no integrity... And that person, of course, should never, never, never be attorney general."
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., acknowledged Blanche's qualifications as a prosecutor but expressed reservations about his willingness to tolerate or support the weaponization of the department, suggesting it could be used for a "retribution agenda by President Trump."
Blanche's hearing is set to continue, with the hesitations of key Republican members casting a shadow over his nomination for the top Justice Department position.