Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his effort to obtain Senate confirmation for a permanent position leading the Department of Justice.
Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April, following the departure of Pam Bondi, who faced bipartisan criticism regarding her management of sensitive files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Prior to his current role, Blanche held the position of deputy attorney general, which qualifies him to serve in an interim capacity. He also previously worked as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, where he defended Trump in a New York case that culminated in the former president's conviction on multiple felony counts for falsifying business records.
To secure confirmation, Blanche must garner the backing of a majority of senators. The Senate is currently under Republican control with a 53-47 majority, although the hospitalization of Senator Mitch McConnell could affect the GOP's voting strength.
Supporters of Blanche on the Judiciary Committee have pointed to endorsements from various organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Sheriffs’ Association, along with numerous former U.S. attorneys and Justice Department officials.
Conversely, Democratic members of the committee are expected to scrutinize what they characterize as the department's delayed or inadequate responses to requests involving politically sensitive issues. They aim to use the confirmation hearing as a platform to hold the department accountable for its actions under both Blanche and Bondi.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
0 Comments
Log in to join the conversation.