President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Todd Blanche, faced mounting pressure during his Senate confirmation hearing as lawmakers from both parties questioned his handling of matters related to Jeffrey Epstein, raising fresh uncertainty over his path to confirmation.
Blanche, who currently serves as acting Attorney General and previously represented Trump as his personal attorney, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, where he was pressed on his independence from the White House, his stewardship of the Justice Department and the department’s handling of Epstein-related records.
A major focus of the hearing was the Justice Department’s treatment of documents connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and whether sufficient measures had been taken to protect the identities and privacy of victims and survivors.
Several Democratic senators urged Blanche to meet directly with Epstein survivors, while questioning decisions surrounding the release and redaction of investigative files. Some Republican lawmakers also expressed concerns about the department’s handling of the matter, signaling bipartisan unease over the issue.
Blanche acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the handling of the Epstein files but insisted there had been no deliberate effort to conceal information. He told senators he would ensure any future reviews of the case were conducted professionally and in accordance with the law if confirmed as Attorney General.
The confirmation hearing also examined Blanche’s close ties to President Trump, with lawmakers questioning whether he could maintain the Justice Department’s independence after serving as Trump’s defense attorney in several high-profile legal cases.
Responding to the concerns, Blanche rejected suggestions that he would act as a political loyalist, telling senators he would uphold the Constitution and enforce the law impartially rather than serve as a “yes man” for the president.
Beyond the Epstein controversy, senators questioned Blanche on a range of Justice Department decisions, including the administration’s handling of immigration enforcement, politically sensitive investigations and the management of a controversial compensation fund established during his tenure as acting Attorney General.
The scrutiny has complicated what had initially been expected to be a relatively straightforward confirmation process. While Republican senators hold the votes needed to advance the nomination, the bipartisan criticism during the hearing suggests Blanche could face a more challenging path in the Senate than previously anticipated.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Blanche’s nomination in the coming days before forwarding it to the full Senate for final consideration.
