Trump's AG Pick Stumbles in Senate Hearing

Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General, faced a rigorous grilling from Democratic senators during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. The session, held in the Senate Judiciary Committee, focused on Blanche's past as Trump's lawyer and his potential to represent the nation's interests over those of the former president.

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I am his lawyer.

When asked directly if he was Trump's friend, Blanche initially stated, "I am his lawyer," before correcting himself to "I was his lawyer." Trump had initially appointed Blanche as acting Attorney General after the dismissal of Pam Bondi, and now seeks Senate confirmation for him to permanently lead the department. The Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate, making Blanche's confirmation a key battleground.

Leading Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin, expressed concerns, with Durbin stating the U.S. deserves an Attorney General who "loves the Constitution more than a single president." Senators Chris Coons and Sheldon Whitehouse accused Blanche of using the Justice Department as a weapon against Trump's opponents and firing staff deemed disloyal. Blanche vehemently denied these allegations, calling them "disgusting."

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The USA deserves an Attorney General who loves the Constitution more than a single president.

Despite the contentious exchanges, Blanche did concede that Trump could not serve another term as president, a point of contention given Trump's repeated musings about remaining in the White House beyond 2028. The constitution limits U.S. presidents to two four-year terms.

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disgusting

The hearing also saw the presence of several victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who wore shirts demanding the release of documents. They accuse the Justice Department of withholding information, potentially protecting co-conspirators. Separately, Jay Clayton, the nominee for Director of National Intelligence, faced tough questions and declined to explicitly state that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, only confirming that "Joe Biden was confirmed," echoing statements from other cabinet members. Trump continues to claim the election was "stolen" despite court rulings to the contrary.

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Joe Biden was confirmed.