Blanche Faces Bipartisan Grilling on Epstein Files, Trump Ties at AG Confirmation Hearing
Acting Attorney General apologizes for handling of Epstein records as senators press him on independence from the president
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche apologized on Capitol Hill this week for what he called mistakes in the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, facing a bipartisan grilling as he seeks Senate confirmation to hold the post permanently, the BBC reported.
Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he sought to assert his independence from President Donald Trump, PBS NewsHour reported. Senators pressed him on his record as Trump's former personal lawyer, his handling of the Epstein files, a proposed settlement fund for people who say they were targeted by the Justice Department, and the fate of prosecutions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The hearing underscored the political stakes surrounding Blanche's nomination. As acting attorney general, he has been at the center of controversy over the department's release of records related to Epstein, the financier who died in 2019 while facing federal sex-trafficking charges. Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for further disclosures, and Blanche's apology reflected continuing pressure on the department to account for gaps or errors in what has been made public.
The confirmation hearing also touched on Blanche's ties to Trump, whom he represented in several legal matters before joining the administration. Senators questioned whether he could act independently of the president if confirmed to lead the Justice Department on a permanent basis, according to PBS NewsHour.
No date has been set for a committee vote on Blanche's nomination.
— Compiled from reporting by the BBC and PBS NewsHour.