Todd Blanche's loyalty to Trump questioned in Senate confirmation hearing

The US Senate Judiciary Committee has begun two days of questioning acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as he seeks confirmation to lead the Department of Justice. Scrutiny centers on Blanche's loyalty to President Donald Trump and whether he will protect the department's independence.

In his opening statement, Blanche tried to allay concerns, saying he is restoring trust in the department. Before joining Trump's second administration, Blanche served as Trump's personal lawyer, representing him in a New York state trial that led to a conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. He was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 and became acting attorney general after Pam Bondi resigned in April.

Blanche is likely to face questions about his role in prosecuting several of Trump's political rivals, including former FBI Director James Comey. He also oversaw a controversial civil settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service that shielded Trump and his family from future tax investigations while creating a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation fund." Blanche claims the fund has been abandoned, a statement he repeated under oath. A federal judge voided the settlement on Tuesday, accusing Blanche of bending court rules.

Republicans Senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring, and Senator John Cornyn, who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, are seen as likely opponents. Cornyn criticized the settlement, questioning if Trump had agreed in writing to abandon the fund. Democrat Richard Durbin accused Blanche of prioritizing loyalty to Trump, quoting Blanche's earlier statement: "I love you, sir" to Trump.

While Blanche highlighted decreases in violent crime and efforts against cartels, critics question the administration's politicization of the Justice Department.