Todd Blanche, currently acting attorney general and Trump’s nominee for top Justice Department post, faced a contentious confirmation hearing where bipartisan concerns centered on his role in a controversial $1.776 billion IRS settlement that included an anti-weaponization fund—now effectively shelved but not formally terminated. Senators like John Cornyn and Thom Tillis questioned whether the deal legally binds the DOJ and pressed Blanche on transparency, with Tillis later offering tepid praise despite prior skepticism. Blanche also drew scrutiny over perceived alignment with Trump, particularly after a gaffe in which he initially described himself as “his lawyer” rather than clarifying his current role, reigniting doubts about his impartiality.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/15/nx-s1-5895105/todd-blanche-senate-confirmation-attorney-general-takeaways