Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General, faced intense questioning from Democrats during a Senate confirmation hearing. Blanche, who has been acting Attorney General since Pam Bondi's firing in April, defended his record but faced accusations of being too close to Trump and pursuing a'retribution' campaign against the president's political enemies.
Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized Blanche for allegedly prioritizing Trump's interests over the Constitution. Blanche defended his tenure, though he initially misspoke when asked if he and Trump were friends, correcting himself to say he was Trump's lawyer.
Democratic senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Chris Coons questioned Blanche over the firing of hundreds of Department of Justice employees deemed insufficiently loyal to Trump. Blanche pushed back, calling Whitehouse's questions 'obnoxious' and accusing him of lying about his tenure.
Blanche has been closely tied to what Democrats call a 'retribution' campaign by Trump. Former FBI director James Comey, an outspoken Trump critic, was indicted in April for allegedly threatening Trump's life in an Instagram post. Blanche has also defended controversial measures like a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' and a deal shielding Trump from tax audits.
Trump defended Blanche in a Truth Social post, calling for every Republican senator to vote to confirm him. However, at least two Republicans on the panel have expressed concerns about Blanche's appointment. The outcome of the confirmation vote remains uncertain, with a single 'no' vote potentially blocking Blanche's nomination.
