Blanche Nomination Scrutiny
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche Seeks Permanent Status Amid Conflict Concerns
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has thrown his support behind Todd Blanche, the acting U.S. Attorney General who is seeking permanent confirmation. President Trump formally sent Blanche's name to the Senate on June 8, 2026, according to White House Office of the Press Secretary. Grassley, who controls the committee that will hold Blanche's confirmation hearing, called him "well-qualified" and praised the DOJ as the "most responsive" to oversight in his career.
The nomination is deeply divisive. Democrats say Blanche — Trump's former personal defense lawyer — has turned the Justice Department into a political weapon. A confirmation hearing is expected in July 2026. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning Blanche can lose no more than three GOP votes.
From Trump's Defense Lawyer to Acting Attorney General
Blanche built his career as a federal prosecutor before becoming a defense attorney. He served as Donald Trump's lead counsel in the New York criminal trial that ended in 34 felony convictions, according to The Guardian. Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, and elevated Blanche to acting AG the same day, per PBS News.
Blanche was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in March 2025 by a narrow 52-46 vote, according to NPR. He describes his service as the "greatest honor of a lifetime" and says his job is "executing on the president's priorities," per CBS News.
A $1.8 Billion Fund and a Presidential Tax Shield
Two actions during Blanche's tenure as acting AG have drawn the loudest criticism. First, he set up a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" via a settlement of Trump's lawsuit against his own government. Critics called it a slush fund for political allies, including January 6 defendants. Blanche later retreated from the plan after a federal judge and Senate Republicans pushed back, according to TIME.
Second, Blanche signed an IRS settlement that "forever" bars the government from auditing Trump, his family, or his businesses for past tax claims, according to The Guardian. Legal experts at JURIST call it a form of immunity that bypasses the Constitution's pardon power. The White House framed it as resolving a $10 billion lawsuit over illegal tax leaks.
Democrats Warn of Conflicts of Interest and DOJ Exodus
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin says Blanche has "erased the line" of Justice Department independence, using it as a "shield for the President" and a "sword against political opponents," per the Congressional Record. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono have flagged another problem: Blanche held between $159,000 and $485,000 in cryptocurrency — Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana — while drafting memos that loosened federal crypto rules, according to Crypto Briefing.
More than 16,000 DOJ employees have left the department since Blanche joined as Deputy AG, according to Justice Connection. Harvard Law professor Jack Goldsmith warns the nomination poses a "profoundly institutional" threat by gutting ethical rules that prevent conflicts of interest.
July Hearing Looms as House Digs Into Epstein Files
Grassley is eyeing a July confirmation hearing. With all 47 Democrats expected to vote no, Blanche can afford to lose just three Republicans. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has said Blanche's stance on the January 6 Capitol riot is a "circuit breaker" for his support, according to TIME. That makes Tillis a key vote to watch.
The House Oversight Committee will hold its own hearing next month focused on the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, according to NOTUS. The House has no vote on cabinet nominations. But the hearing could give Democrats a national stage to air grievances just before the Senate confirmation vote.
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