Blanche to testify today at Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general

Todd Blanche to Appear Before Senate Judiciary Committee for Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to testify at 9 a.m. ET on July 15, 2026, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his nomination to serve as attorney general. President Trump nominated Blanche for the position last month. Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, when President Trump removed Pam Bondi from the role.

Blanche previously served as President Trump's personal criminal defense attorney and as deputy attorney general in the second Trump administration. The hearing will be streamed live on CBS News 24/7.

Hearing Details and Schedule

The Senate Judiciary Committee session begins at 9 a.m. ET on Capitol Hill. Republicans hold the majority on the committee. The panel's composition changed after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on July 11. Graham's sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to complete the remainder of the term, though it remains unclear whether she will assume his committee assignments, including Judiciary.

Republican Senators and Positions on the Nomination

Several Republican senators have raised questions about a Justice Department program established as part of a settlement in President Trump's civil lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The suit, filed for $10 billion, concerned the leak of the president's tax returns by a former government contractor. The resulting agreement created a $1.776 billion fund described by the administration as an "anti-weaponization" initiative.

Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas have been identified as likely to ask detailed questions. Tillis, who is not seeking reelection, and Cornyn, who lost a primary runoff to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, have both commented on the nomination. Tillis stated on July 14 that he is inclined to support confirmation, saying, "If we're able to get through the 1776 and get-out-of-audit-free card, then I'm going to support him," referring to the fund amount and the IRS settlement. He added that he would reconsider only if new information emerged that would rationally change his position.

President Trump posted on Truth Social on July 14 urging all Republican senators to confirm Blanche, describing him as "a great lawyer" and "always very fair." The president also referenced Blanche's prior representation in cases brought by the prior administration.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund and Related Litigation

Blanche stated last week that he expected questions about the fund. The program drew objections from members of both parties after its announcement in May. During a House hearing last month, Blanche said the Justice Department was "not moving forward" with the fund. He did not provide that statement in writing. The department also declined a federal judge's request for sworn declarations from Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the fund's status.

On July 13, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami issued an order addressing the IRS lawsuit settlement. The order referenced a release signed by Blanche that provided immunity from certain future tax claims to President Trump, his older sons, and associated companies for matters arising out of "lawfare and/or weaponization." Judge Williams questioned whether the release complied with ethical standards on conflicts of interest and directed a copy of the order to the New York State Bar, where Blanche is admitted. The order also stated that the Justice Department had not followed its own policies in the settlement.

Former Department Employees and Confirmation Letter

More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees affiliated with the group Justice Connection sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month opposing Blanche's confirmation. The letter stated that Blanche oversaw the termination of hundreds of employees, often without notice, and listed reasons including work on cases the president opposed, family relationships to the president's critics, immigration adjudications, decisions not to pursue certain prosecutions, and refusals to make statements in court. The letter described these actions as violations of civil service protections.

In response, Blanche said in an interview with Alaska's News Source that many signatories had worked with former special counsel Jack Smith. He stated that opposition from the group did not affect his view of the nomination.

Blanche served as deputy attorney general before Bondi's departure and oversaw daily operations, including charging decisions, review of Epstein files, and personnel changes.

Federal Cases Involving Former Officials

Blanche is expected to address federal investigations and prosecutions involving individuals frequently criticized by President Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former CIA Director John Brennan. Brennan has been the subject of two Justice Department inquiries since January 2025.

Comey was first indicted in 2025 on charges related to 2020 congressional testimony. James faced charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution. Both cases were dismissed in November 2025 after a judge ruled that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who had previously served as President Trump's personal attorney, was not lawfully appointed. The Justice Department appealed the dismissals.

Comey was indicted again in April 2026 on a charge of making threats against the president, based on an Instagram post showing seashells arranged as "86 47." Prosecutors argued a reasonable person would view the image as an intent to cause harm. Comey has denied the allegation and is scheduled for arraignment in September.

Blanche's Professional Background

Blanche began his Justice Department service as a paralegal while attending Brooklyn Law School, from which he graduated in 2003. He clerked for two federal judges in New York and later served as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. He worked at the law firms WilmerHale and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft before founding Blanche Law in 2023.

In that role, Blanche led the defense of President Trump in a New York state case involving 34 felony counts related to a 2016 payment. The president was convicted on all counts in 2024 and has appealed. The Senate confirmed Blanche as deputy attorney general by a 52-46 vote. He assumed the acting attorney general position after Bondi's removal in April.

The hearing is expected to cover these topics and the department's operations under the current administration.