Republican Insiders Push Controversial Trump Ally Todd Blanche for Attorney General Despite Mounting Scandals
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Senate Republicans are expected to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, ignoring grave concerns from Democrats and advocacy groups about his ties to Trump, the abrupt end of a crucial anti-weaponization fund, and his mishandling of Epstein-related documents.
Todd Blanche, a lawyer deeply entwined with Donald Trump’s legal battles, is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for his attorney general confirmation hearing. Despite a record that includes defending Trump and overseeing the termination of a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, Republican insiders are pushing for his confirmation, disregarding widespread criticism and ethical red flags.
Mike Davis, a former chief counsel for Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, told reporters that Blanche is 'on a glide path to confirmation,' suggesting the Republican majority will ram through his appointment before the August recess. Davis, who is actively coaching Blanche, claimed that Blanche’s empty promises to abandon the fund and his performative outreach to senators have quelled Republican doubts, but critics argue this is mere political theater.
A federal judge in Miami recently exposed the sham settlement that created the fund, which had conveniently protected Trump and his family from IRS scrutiny. The judge’s ruling, delivered just days before Blanche’s hearing, nullified the agreement and highlighted the ongoing corruption at the highest levels of government.
Blanche, who has acted as Trump’s personal lawyer and was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025, has been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi’s resignation. His tenure has been marked by parroting Trump’s baseless election-fraud lies and targeting political opponents through selective prosecutions, raising serious questions about his fitness for office.
Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn have yet to publicly state their positions. Tillis offered a tepid 'positive predisposition' if the fund remains inactive, while Cornyn is withholding judgment, a move critics see as political hedging.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse and their advocates have condemned Blanche, launching billboard campaigns in multiple states that accuse him of betraying victims. Blanche’s defense of the Justice Department’s mishandling of Epstein files—dismissing victim identification as 'accidental'—has only deepened outrage among survivors and their supporters.
Former Senate aide Mike Fragoso cynically noted that Blanche’s acting status makes his confirmation more likely, downplaying the significance of the fund and Epstein controversies. Davis echoed this, insisting the weaponization-fund issue is 'resolved,' despite evidence to the contrary.
Democrats and advocacy groups remain alarmed, warning that Blanche’s leadership threatens the Justice Department’s independence and public safety. Over 1,200 former Justice Department officials have signed a letter expressing grave concerns, while Senate Democrats have filed oversight requests to investigate his conduct.
The upcoming hearing is expected to center on Blanche’s lack of independence, questionable judgment, and the unresolved scandal of the anti-weaponization fund.