Senators question Blanche about Trump’s loyalty, the January 6 cases, and the Epstein files

Jeff Bennett:

Welcome to the News Hour.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee today for more than five hours to testify about his nomination to serve permanently in the position.

As justice reporter Ali Rogin reported, Blanche faced pointed questions about his record as President Trump’s personal attorney, the fate of a proposed settlement fund for people who claim to have been targeted by the Justice Department, and his handling of the Epstein files.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa):

Do you swear or confirm…

Ali Rogin:

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche took tough questions from both sides of the aisle…

Todd Blanche:

: I am here today to earn your trust again.

Ali Rogin:

…in his three-month record in an acting role.

Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.):

This is not a confirmation hearing. This is more than just a performance review.

Ali Rogin:

Under review is a short-term settlement of a lawsuit brought by President Trump against the IRS, in which people who allege politicized prosecutions can apply for part of the so-called gun control fund. Blanche said the box was dead, but she refused to write it down.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas):

Was there a written agreement between the parties to amend the settlement fund?

Todd Blanche:

No, the settlement fund does not move forward. There is no modification. It never started. No funds were transferred from the treasury to any other account. There are no commissioners. It’s not moving forward.

Senator John Cornyn:

But just to be clear, the President of the United States, who is the plaintiff in this lawsuit, did not agree in writing to delete the Armament Fund.

Ali Rogin:

Blanche also took questions about the fund’s reprimand by a federal judge in Florida, who said the case was brought in bad faith. She shared her matter with the New York State Bar Association for possible disciplinary action.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island):

Do you intend to appeal, Ministry of Justice?

Todd Blanche:

We weren’t even part of that decision. So, to the extent that there is something we can appeal, I will strongly encourage the administration to do so.

Ali Rogin:

In the hearing room today, there are a handful of survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some of them appeared in a video earlier this week urging senators not to confirm Blanche over his handling of the Epstein files as deputy attorney general.

woman:

Todd Blanche has failed us.

woman:

He has failed victims everywhere.

woman:

We deserve better.

Ali Rogin:

These survivors have criticized Blanche and the Department of Justice for redaction errors that revealed their personal information, which they say led to re-traumatization and fears for their safety.

Blanche admitted those mistakes.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut):

Will you apologize to them for the mismanagement and mistakes committed by the US Department of Justice?

Todd Blanche:

I will, I will definitely say that any mistake we made should not have been made.

Ali Rogin:

While he praised the work of the lawyers who reviewed the files.

Todd Blanche:

Whenever we learn that a victim’s name has been incorrectly redacted, we immediately remove the document.

Ali Rogin:

Several lawmakers echoed survivors’ claims that the Justice Department intentionally redacted the names of powerful people linked to Epstein.

Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois):

Your explanation – quote – “Partying with Mr. Epstein is not a crime.”

Mr. Blanche, these survivors deserve so much better.

Ali Rogin:

She urged Blanche to meet the survivors in the room, which Blanche said he could not do directly.

Senator Richard Durbin:

Will you meet these ten survivors? I’m asking you for the record.

Todd Blanche:

If they have lawyers, you know, I’m prohibited from meeting with them directly. I have met with survivors’ attorneys, as have many people in the Department of Justice, who are over 30 years old. But if they are represented by attorneys, we will work with their attorneys.

Ali Rogin:

There have been revealing exchanges on many issues before the Department of Justice, but Blanche’s most memorable response may be the quick and seemingly awkward response.

Senator John Kennedy (R-Los Angeles):

Are you and President Trump friends?

Todd Blanche:

I’m his lawyer, I was his attorney, and now I’m the deputy district attorney.

Ali Rogin:

Blanche led Trump’s defense team in several cases between his presidential terms, which critics have described as a conflict of interest since he joined the Justice Department. One such case was special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Blanch said he recused himself from the Jan. 6 cases, but moved this year to overturn the convictions of 12 riot leaders.

Blanche defended his involvement.

Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.):

These people were convicted in the January 6 investigation, which also included the president she represented. You participated in rejecting those cases, didn’t you?

Todd Blanche:

I was – I’m the acting prosecutor. So, yes, my department fired me. I was…

Senator Adam Schiff:

So you do not exempt yourself from this matter. I was ready.

Todd Blanche:

There’s no reason why the Proud Boys matter?

Senator Adam Schiff:

Yes it was.

Todd Blanche:

You know the rules. There are rules that say when I have to step down. This is not one of them.

Senator Adam Schiff:

Yes, there are rules.

Ali Rogin:

Blanche needs the support of all Republicans on the committee in order to reach a full vote in the Senate. Two of them, Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, lost the primary and were viewed as wild cards at the hearing. Cornyn told reporters he still had concerns, but Tillis seemed supportive.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC):

Thank you, Mr. Blanche. You did a great job today.

Ali Rogin:

The committee meets tomorrow for a second day, where it will hear from Blanche’s supporters and critics.

Senator Charles Grassley:

The meeting has been postponed.

Todd Blanche:

Thank you, Senator.

Ali Rogin:

On the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Ali Rogin.