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WATCH: 'I'm his lawyer,' Blanche says of his relationship to Trump before correcting himself
🇺🇸 United States /Elections & Politics

WATCH: 'I'm his lawyer,' Blanche says of his relationship to Trump before correcting himself

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Senator John Kennedy questioned Todd Blanche, President Trump's former lawyer, during his attorney general confirmation hearing.
  • Kennedy pressed Blanche on the nature of his relationship with Trump and whether he had ever been asked to do something illegal.
  • Blanche stated Trump had not asked him to commit illegal acts and affirmed he would not comply if asked.

During his confirmation hearing for attorney general, nominee Todd Blanche faced pointed questions from Senator John Kennedy regarding his past legal representation of President Donald Trump. Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, sought to clarify the depth of Blanche's relationship with the former president, inquiring if he considered Trump a friend.

I'm his lawyer

— Todd BlancheTodd Blanche initially referred to his relationship with President Trump in the present tense during his confirmation hearing.

Blanche, who represented Trump in several cases, including the election fraud case in Washington, before joining the Justice Department during Trump's second term, initially referred to himself as Trump's lawyer in the present tense. He quickly corrected himself, stating, "I was his lawyer."

I was his lawyer

— Todd BlancheTodd Blanche corrected himself after initially stating he was currently Trump's lawyer.

Senator Kennedy also directly asked Blanche if Trump had ever requested him to perform any illegal actions. Blanche firmly denied such requests, stating, "Trump had not."

Trump had not.

— Todd BlancheTodd Blanche responded when asked by Senator John Kennedy if President Trump had ever asked him to do something illegal.

When pressed further by Kennedy with the hypothetical question, "Would you do it if he asked you?", Blanche responded unequivocally, "Absolutely not."

Absolutely not

— Todd BlancheTodd Blanche stated he would refuse any illegal request from President Trump.
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Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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