President Trump urges Republicans to confirm acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is expected to face a contentious Senate confirmation hearing. Multiple outlets report Trump is defending Blanche’s record in a post on Truth Social, praising his leadership at the Justice Department and arguing that crime outcomes improved during his tenure. One report says Trump also links his support to Blanche’s past role as Trump’s longtime attorney, citing Blanche’s work representing Trump through several federal and state criminal cases, including the New York hush-money prosecution and other matters.
Other coverage focuses on legal and ethical concerns raised by critics. One outlet describes Blanche as having significant conflicts of interest stemming from his prior employment as Trump’s personal attorney and his continued alignment with the president while serving as deputy attorney general and acting head of the Justice Department. It cites dispute surrounding a settlement involving the IRS, which a federal judge reportedly found to involve self-dealing and referred to the Florida Bar. The report also notes that bar authorities have raised questions about Blanche’s fitness for office.
With the hearing underway, some senators have signaled they plan to question Blanche, according to reporting from multiple sources.
