politics
Senate Judiciary Committee questions Todd Blanche on Epstein files and anti-weaponization fund during attorney general confirmation hearing
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared at a July 15 confirmation hearing to lead the Justice Department permanently. President Trump nominated him in June 2025 after the departure of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Jul 14, 4:49 PM·1m read48 sources
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Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, testified on July 15 before the Senate Judiciary Committee in his confirmation hearing for the permanent position. President Trump nominated Blanche in June 2025 after firing Pam Bondi in April 2025. Blanche has held the acting role since early April 2025 and previously served as deputy attorney general after Senate confirmation in March 2025.
Blanche stated during the hearing that the anti-weaponization fund is dead. He told lawmakers, "It is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund. " Senator John Cornyn challenged Blanche on the fund's fate.
Senator Dick Durbin questioned Blanche about the Jeffrey Epstein files. Blanche said he is prohibited from meeting directly with Jeffrey Epstein victims. Durbin urged Blanche to meet with ten victims.
The Justice Department under Blanche published nearly 3.5 million pages of Epstein files in January 2026 and indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center for alleged donor fraud. Blanche granted President Trump protection from IRS audits. President Trump posted on Truth Social that Blanche brought murder rates to historic lows, increased violent crime arrests by 100 percent, and oversaw the seizure of more than 500 million deadly doses of drugs.
The death of Senator Lindsey Graham left Republicans with a one-seat majority in the Senate. Former Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer and Epstein victim Dani Bensky are scheduled to testify for Democrats.
