WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� is set to atop the Justice Department during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday that will test President Donald Trump鈥檚 grip on Republican lawmakers whose support the nominee will need for the job.
Blanche, according to prepared remarks released before the hearing, is expected to tell lawmakers that he and his team are 鈥渞estoring trust鈥� in the Justice Department. It鈥檚 a nod toward complaints from Democrats that he has weaponized the law enforcement institution by pursuing criminal investigations into Trump鈥檚 perceived adversaries.
Blanche, Trump鈥檚 former personal attorney, has run the department on an interim basis since April. During that time, he has into Trump foes, functioned as the public face of meant to compensate the Republican president鈥檚 allies and alarmed press freedom advocates with of news media leaks.
Here’s the latest:
Blanche highlights the Justice Department鈥檚 shifting priorities under Trump
In his opening statement, Blanche touted the Trump administration鈥檚 efforts to lower violent crime, stem the flow of illicit drugs, prosecute dangerous cartels and take down fraudsters taking advantage of American taxpayers.
The Justice Department under Trump has moved aggressively to prioritize immigration enforcement and turn up the pressure on cartels. It also created a new division dedicated to tackling fraud in taxpayer-funded programs.
Florida senator highlights Blanche鈥檚 pre-Trump career
As a counter to Democrats鈥� narrative portraying Blanche as loyal only to Trump, Sen. Ashley Moody reminded the committee that the acting attorney general began his career at the Department of Justice as a paralegal.
Moody also detailed Blanche鈥檚 years with the Southern District of New York, where she said, 鈥淗e prosecuted drug traffickers and violent criminals.鈥� She also detailed various awards and commendations he received while in that role.
Watch these 2 Republicans on the committee
The stakes are high for Blanche, who needs the support of every Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee for his nomination to advance.
Two of those Republicans 鈥� Sen. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn 鈥� haven鈥檛 committed to supporting him.
Tillis has been an outspoken critic of that the Trump administration created to compensate people who feel unjustly persecuted by the criminal justice system and then quickly withdrew.
Tillis and Cornyn are expected to grill Blanche over of the settlement that afforded Trump and members of his family protection from tax audits.
Durbin says Blanche still acts like Trump鈥檚 personal attorney
In his opening statement, Sen. Dick Durbin railed against actions taken by the Justice Department under Blanche鈥檚 watch, including a move to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of the president.
The top Democrat on the committee also condemned the purging of Justice Department employees deemed insufficiently loyal to Trump and the department鈥檚 handling of millions of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein鈥檚 sex trafficking investigation.
Durbin accused Blanche of still acting like Trump鈥檚 personal lawyer, pursuing investigations against the president鈥檚 foes while taking steps to aid his allies.
鈥淚n less than 18 months at the Department of Justice, you鈥檝e shown you鈥檙e still President Trump鈥檚 personal attorney,鈥� Durbin said.
Attorney general confirmation hearing getting underway
Blanche is expected to face bipartisan scrutiny as he seeks the chance to serve out the duration of Trump鈥檚 term.
Blanche, Trump鈥檚 former personal attorney, has run the department on an interim basis since April, when Pam Bondi was fired after struggling to bring successful cases against Trump鈥檚 political foes.
Since taking the reins at the Justice Department, Blanche has into Trump foes, functioned as the public face of a meant to compensate the president鈥檚 allies and alarmed press freedom advocates with an of news media leaks.
Blanche faces Senate scrutiny, with Republican support key to his confirmation as attorney general
will confront questions Wednesday about his brief but turbulent tenure atop the Justice Department during a Senate confirmation hearing that will test President Donald Trump鈥檚 grip on Republican lawmakers whose support the nominee will need for the job.
Blanche, Trump鈥檚 former personal attorney, has run the department on an interim basis since April, during which time he鈥檚 into Trump foes, functioned as the public face of meant to compensate the Republican president鈥檚 allies and alarmed press freedom advocates with of news media leaks.
Those actions will receive fresh scrutiny at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as Blanche testifies for the opportunity to serve out the duration of Trump鈥檚 term.
鈻�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
