Todd Blanche faces Senate test in bid to lead Justice Department
What's next: Blanche needs unanimous GOP support on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance his nomination.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a high-stakes confirmation hearing that could determine whether he takes over the Justice Department permanently. Blanche has led the department in an acting role since April and must hold all Republican votes on the panel to move forward. Lawmakers were expected to press him over investigations involving President Donald Trump’s political foes, a disputed settlement of Trump’s IRS lawsuit and the department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Democrats have argued Blanche remains too closely tied to Trump after serving as his defense lawyer in the New York hush money case.