Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will argue at his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday that he is “restoring trust” in the Justice Department, according to prepared remarks released ahead of the high-stakes proceeding. The statement frames Blanche’s response to Democratic criticism that he has weaponized the law enforcement agency by pursuing investigations into President Donald Trump’s perceived political adversaries.
“In recent years, Americans watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public’s faith in justice,” Blanche will say in his opening statement. “We are fixing that.” The message reflects a central dividing point in current American politics: whether the federal government was improperly weaponized against Trump during previous administrations, or whether Trump is now using the Justice Department to target his critics and political opponents.
Blanche, Trump’s former personal defense attorney, has served as acting attorney general since April when Trump fired Pam Bondi. Now he seeks permanent confirmation from a Senate where his narrow path to approval will depend almost entirely on Republican votes. Democrats are unified in opposition, and even some Republicans have expressed concerns about his record leading the department.
The confirmation hearing marks a critical juncture for Blanche’s nomination. Most political observers believe he will be narrowly confirmed by the GOP-led Senate, but his fate could hinge on the votes of just a handful of Republican senators. With the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina late last week, the Republican advantage on the Senate Judiciary Committee has narrowed considerably. A single Republican defection could derail Blanche’s nomination entirely.
The scrutiny Blanche faces centers on several controversial matters during his tenure. Democrats are expected to press him on what they characterize as politicized prosecutions, including indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Blanche’s handling of sensitive Jeffrey Epstein files has also drawn criticism, as has his role in creating a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund intended to compensate Trump administration allies. Though the fund is no longer moving forward after bipartisan backlash, the settlement that shielded Trump and his businesses from IRS audits remains in place.
Blanche’s tenure has been marked by unprecedented disruption within the Justice Department itself. The department has lost roughly 16,000 employees through firings, resignations and early retirements under the Trump administration, according to former Justice Department employees. More than 1,200 former DOJ employees signed a letter urging senators to reject Blanche’s nomination, accusing him of creating a “culture of fear” within the department and firing hundreds of career attorneys, agents and analysts “usually without notice, and for improper, unlawful reasons.”
The former employees alleged that some staff were terminated for having worked on cases the president disliked, for declining to initiate prosecutions they viewed as vindictive, or for adjudicating immigration cases in accordance with due process. The letter warned that the departures have compromised the department’s ability to handle critical work across national security, drug trafficking investigations and civil rights enforcement.
Blanche has dismissed the criticism from former colleagues. When asked about the letter, he responded that 1,200 employees represented a tiny fraction of the department’s roughly 40,000 staff members. He expressed confidence that he would work with Senate Republicans and Democrats to answer their questions.
Among Republican senators, the contentious anti-weaponization fund has emerged as a potential flashpoint. Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas have raised particular concerns. Tillis indicated Tuesday that he is inclined to support Blanche’s nomination if questions about the fund can be adequately addressed, telling reporters he is going “into the hearings with a lean yes” unless something fundamentally changes his position.
Blanche’s preparation for the hearing reflects the stakes involved. Multiple sources indicate he has spent more than a week preparing, including at least one practice run of the proceedings. He has focused on defending his law enforcement record, emphasizing work on gang violence, fraud prevention and drug trafficking, while attempting to counter allegations that he operates solely according to Trump’s preferences rather than in the interest of the United States.
The hearing also comes amid other legal pressure on Blanche. Just two days before his confirmation testimony, a federal judge issued a bar discipline referral against him related to a settlement with Trump. A federal judge previously blasted the anti-weaponization fund settlement as an apparent attempt to use taxpayer dollars for purposes undefined in law.
Despite the controversies, Blanche has secured substantial support. More than 250,000 law enforcement officers, represented through groups including the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, have voiced support for his nomination. Republican senators including Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, have praised Blanche’s record and called him well-qualified. In an opening statement prepared for the hearing, Grassley noted the Justice Department’s “record of success” in tackling crime and combating drug trafficking.
The confirmation hearing begins at 9 a.m. ET Wednesday and will test not only Blanche’s ability to address Republican concerns but also Trump’s ability to maintain unity among GOP lawmakers on one of his highest personnel priorities.