Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as he seeks Senate confirmation to permanently lead the Justice Department.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, when he replaced Pam Bondi after she faced bipartisan criticism over her performance, including her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
As Bondi's deputy AG, Blanche acknowledged on Wednesday that mistakes were made in releasing the Epstein files, but defended the Justice Department for redacting information, claiming that the Trump administration has been more transparent than the Biden administration. The Trump administration was obligated by Congress to release files following a late 2025 vote.
"The Biden administration did nothing to be transparent about the Epstein case. We have been extraordinarily transparent in not only producing the records, but letting unredacted versions be available to anybody in this body. And if, after reviewing unredacted materials, a member had concerns about why something was redacted, they brought them to the department's attention, and we addressed that," Blanche said.
At Wednesday's hearing, 10 women who said they were victims of Epstein's sexual misconduct, were on hand for Wednesday's hearing. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who is the ranking member on the committee, asked Blanche if he would be willing to meet with Epstein survivors.
“I appreciate them being here today,” Blanche said. “I have never said I wouldn’t meet with survivors.”
“I hope you would do it immediately, or we’re going to hold you to it,” Durbin said.
Before becoming acting attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general, making him eligible to lead the Justice Department on an interim basis. Before joining the Trump administration, he was President Donald Trump’s personal attorney. Blanche defended Trump in a 2024 New York case that resulted in Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
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To win confirmation, Blanche needs support from a majority of senators. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, though Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization could temporarily narrow the GOP voting margin.
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Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have highlighted endorsements for Blanche from the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association and dozens of former U.S. attorneys and Justice Department officials.
Democrats on the committee are seeking answers about what they describe as delayed, incomplete or ignored DOJ responses to requests involving politically sensitive matters. They also want the confirmation hearing to serve in part as an accountability hearing on the department’s conduct under Blanche and Bondi.
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“In less than 18 months at the Department of Justice, you’ve shown you’re still President Trump’s personal attorney,” Durbin said.
The stakes for the hearings are high as it is likely that every single GOP member of the Judiciary Committee will need to support his nomination for it to advance to the full Senate.
