Republican insiders expect Todd Blanche to secure attorney general confirmation despite controversies
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Senate Republicans anticipate that Todd Blanche will be confirmed as attorney general, even as Democrats and advocacy groups raise concerns over a halted anti-weaponization fund and the handling of Epstein-related documents.
Todd Blanche is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for his attorney general confirmation hearing. While the nominee carries a client list that includes President Donald Trump and faces criticism over a discontinued $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, several Republican insiders say his confirmation is likely.
Mike Davis, a former chief counsel for Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, told reporters that Blanche is "on a glide path to confirmation" and may be confirmed before the August recess. Davis, who is assisting Blanche with preparation, noted that Blanche’s pledge to abandon the fund and extensive outreach to senators have eased earlier Republican concerns.
A federal judge in Miami recently ruled that the settlement creating the fund, which had shielded Trump and his family from IRS audits, was not a genuine legal dispute, effectively nullifying the agreement two days before Blanche’s hearing.
Blanche, who served as Trump’s personal lawyer and was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025, has been acting attorney general since Pam Bondi’s departure. He has echoed Trump’s election-fraud claims and overseen prosecutions of individuals viewed as political adversaries.
Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn have not publicly disclosed their votes. Tillis indicated a "positive predisposition" contingent on the fund being rendered inoperative, while Cornyn said he would withhold judgment until after the hearing.
Advocates for Jeffrey Epstein survivors have criticized Blanche, staging billboards in several states that accuse him of betraying victims. Blanche defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files, describing any victim identification as accidental and pledging accountability when evidence permits.
Former Senate aide Mike Fragoso said Blanche’s acting role makes his confirmation more probable, adding that concerns over the fund and Epstein are unlikely to derail the nomination. Davis concurred, stating that the weaponization-fund issue is resolved.
Democrats and some advocacy groups remain skeptical, arguing that Blanche’s tenure has compromised the Justice Department’s independence. More than 1,200 former Justice Department officials signed a letter warning that his leadership could harm public safety, and Senate Democrats have filed oversight requests targeting his conduct.
The hearing is expected to focus on Blanche’s independence, judgment, and the status of the anti-weaponization fund.