Senate expected to grill Todd Blanche over Epstein files and cases against Trump’s political rivals in confirmation hearing – live

Senate Judiciary Committee Schedules Confirmation Hearing for Todd Blanche as Attorney General Nominee

President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a confirmation hearing. Blanche, 51, previously served as Trump’s personal defense lawyer and has acted as attorney general since Pam Bondi’s departure from the role. The hearing is one of several confirmation proceedings set for the same day, including sessions on intelligence and health agency leadership.

Committee rules allow a single Republican vote against a nominee to prevent advancement from the panel. Blanche’s prior work has drawn attention from Democratic members, who have described certain prosecutions and investigations as part of a broader effort targeting political opponents. Republican statements on the matter have emphasized enforcement priorities established by the administration. Senators are also expected to examine the Department of Justice’s handling of document releases connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Additional hearings include Jay Clayton’s appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding the nomination to lead national intelligence agencies. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will consider Dr. Erica Schwartz for permanent director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Sean Kaufman for assistant secretary for preparedness and response.

Developments on Immigration Enforcement Operations

Federal immigration officials received instructions to pause vehicle stops pending further review, according to a Department of Homeland Security source. The directive follows two fatal incidents in Texas and Maine in which officers discharged firearms during enforcement actions involving vehicles. A separate encounter in St. Augustine, Florida, on Tuesday resulted in one death, bringing the total linked to such operations in the preceding week to three. Homeland Security Investigations personnel approached four individuals in a vehicle at a convenience store parking lot; Florida Highway Patrol provided initial details on the location and circumstances.

President Trump posted on his social media platform that Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel were performing necessary work and that overall crime statistics had declined. The statement noted prior border policies and described traffic stops as an operational tool, while directing agents to proceed judiciously.

Advocacy organizations including the National Police Accountability Project and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights issued statements calling for restrictions on ICE activities and funding limitations. These groups characterized the shootings as extrajudicial. Official accounts of the Maine and Texas incidents have described rapid escalations during vehicle encounters; bystander recordings have circulated publicly. No final determinations from internal reviews have been released.

Other Congressional and Institutional Updates

Darline Graham was sworn in Tuesday to serve the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term following his death. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster made the appointment under state procedures for temporary succession.

Supreme Court justices submitted a request for an additional $14.6 million in security funding. Justice Amy Coney Barrett testified before House appropriators that increased threats have affected personal security arrangements for members of the Court and their families.

Two organizations, Democracy in the Arab World Now and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, filed suit in federal court in Manhattan alleging that 2025 sanctions measures directed at certain Palestinian organizations, International Criminal Court personnel, and a United Nations rapporteur infringed First Amendment protections. The complaint asserts effects on domestic advocacy work and professional associations. The administration has described the sanctions as responses to designated activities.

Former President Joe Biden’s memoir, titled “Promise Me, America,” is scheduled for release in November by Little, Brown and Company. The publisher stated the volume will address economic policy and the decision to end his reelection campaign. Biden described the work as an account of national challenges and personal decisions.

The confirmation hearing for Blanche is expected to cover case selections, document handling practices, and operational policies at the Department of Justice. Committee members from both parties have indicated lines of inquiry on Epstein-related materials and ongoing matters involving prior administration actions. No transcripts or outcomes are available prior to the session.

Reporting on these topics draws from official statements, court filings, agency releases, and congressional records. Further updates will follow proceedings as they occur.