Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche endured a grueling second confirmation hearing Wednesday, with one lawmaker describing it as more of a performance review than a job interview. The session, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, featured sharp questioning not only from Democrats but also from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), whose reservations could derail Blanche's bid to become the nation's top law enforcement officer.
Cornyn, who is retiring, told reporters after his round that he remains unconvinced about Blanche's fitness for the role. The Texas Republican focused heavily on the creation of a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which has drawn bipartisan criticism. Blanche argued the fund is a “moot issue,” noting he had rescinded the document establishing it while under oath. But Cornyn countered that the matter is unresolved, pointing out that President Trump, a plaintiff in related litigation, has not formally agreed to drop the fund in writing, leaving the door open for future legal challenges.
“Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who was a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the weaponization fund, and there's no guarantee that he or one of the other plaintiffs might raise that issue by way of a lawsuit,” Cornyn said during the hearing. He also highlighted a memo Blanche signed that “forever bars and precludes” Trump, his children, and his businesses from facing prosecution or investigation—a broad document that extends beyond IRS scrutiny. Blanche insisted the agreement “binds only the IRS and by extension the Treasury,” but Cornyn pushed back: “I hear what you're saying, but I certainly don't read that in the agreement.”
Cornyn's vote is critical, as a single Republican “no” could stall Blanche's nomination in committee. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another Republican who had criticized the fund, signaled he was warming to Blanche during the hearing, telling the nominee he was doing “very well.” But Cornyn remained noncommittal, stating, “I'm not going to make any decisions at this point. I'm going to wait until we actually vote on a confirmation.”
Democrats seized the opportunity to excoriate Blanche over his ties to Trump and the anti-weaponization fund. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) accused Blanche of “self-dealing,” arguing the agreement indemnifies Trump for crimes that would typically lead to prosecution. “But the agreement you signed on behalf of your former client, on behalf of your current client, in a staggering example of self-dealing, prohibits that,” Schiff said.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) engaged in a heated exchange with Blanche, quoting President Lincoln to argue that power reveals character. “I believe you've had a lot of power, and so we don't have to speculate about what has been revealed with your time in that office,” Booker said. “So this isn't a confirmation hearing. This is more of a performance review. And clearly, when it comes to the treatment of Epstein victims, when it comes to politically motivated prosecutions, when it comes to avoiding appearance of impropriety with corporations, you failed.” Booker's remarks echoed broader Democratic concerns about Blanche's tenure, including his handling of the Epstein probe and his role in what critics call politically motivated prosecutions. Schumer and Durbin have joined Epstein survivors in rallying against Blanche's AG bid, underscoring the intensity of the opposition.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the panel, listed a series of alleged offenses, including bringing prosecutions against Trump's foes, mass firings of career prosecutors, and the case of an attorney who admitted in court that the administration mistakenly deported a man. “In less than 18 months at the Department of Justice, you have shown you're still President Trump's personal attorney. Your tenure can be summed up in the four words you said, 'I love you, sir,' to President Trump,” Durbin said, referencing Blanche's comment about how he would respond if Trump fired him. “This nation deserves an attorney general who loves the Constitution more than any single president.”
Blanche stumbled at one point, referring to himself as Trump's attorney—a role he held in private practice before joining the administration. “I'm his lawyer—was his lawyer, and now I'm the deputy attorney general,” he said, later adding, “I met him as his criminal defense attorney. I'm not sure there are very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend.” Democrats pounced, with Schiff calling it a “Freudian slip.” The gaffe added to a pattern of scrutiny over Blanche's close relationship with Trump, which has been a central theme of his confirmation battles. Blanche stumbled again on Trump ties during the hearing, further fueling doubts about his independence.
Despite the bipartisan pushback, Blanche defended his record, insisting he remains the same prosecutor he was in the Southern District of New York. “You asked me what happened to Todd Blanche. I am still here,” he shot back at Schiff. “I am the same exact person I was when I was a federal prosecutor in the SDNY, which is do the right thing and do everything you can to keep communities safe.”
The hearing underscored the precarious path forward for Blanche, whose nomination now hinges on Cornyn's decision. With Democrats united in opposition, Blanche needs near-unanimous Republican support to advance. Cornyn's hesitation, coupled with the ongoing controversy over the anti-weaponization fund, leaves the outcome uncertain as the committee prepares to vote. Cornyn holds back support for Blanche as AG over anti-weaponization fund dispute, a development that could reshape the confirmation landscape.
