{"id":2017,"date":"2026-08-04T16:38:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T16:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017"},"modified":"2026-08-04T16:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T16:38:50","slug":"todd-blanche-advances-to-full-senate-confirmation-vote-after-heated-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017","title":{"rendered":"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, clearing a major hurdle in his bid to become the nation\u2019s permanent attorney general after senators voted<\/span> along party lines, 12-10, to send his nomination to the full Senate.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The committee vote came after weeks of scrutiny over Blanche\u2019s tenure as acting attorney general and his previous role as President Donald Trump\u2019s personal defense attorney. Senate Republicans are now expected to move toward a confirmation vote before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. <\/span><\/p>\n

A Senate Republican source told The Daily Wire that leadership\u2019s goal is to hold a confirmation vote before senators depart Washington later this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nomination drew heightened attention in recent weeks as several Republican senators sought additional assurances from Blanche on issues ranging from the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to the administration\u2019s abandoned \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX), who had previously withheld their support while negotiating with the Justice Department over the fund, ultimately voted to advance Blanche after <\/span>receiving written commitments<\/span> that the department would formally rescind the Anti-Weaponization Fund. Tillis had also pressed Blanche to meet personally with victims connected to Jeffrey Epstein and work with lawmakers to ensure the controversial fund could not be revived.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cornyn said the agreement provided the assurances he had been seeking. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been consistent about their assertion on behalf of the United States of America that the weaponization fund is dead, and of course I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation,\u201d Cornyn said. \u201cGiven this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation, and I will vote to advance him out of the committee today.\u201d <\/span>Cornyn also argued that confirming a permanent attorney general would provide stability for the Justice Department.<\/span><\/p>\n

Democrats remained unanimously opposed to Blanche\u2019s nomination, arguing he would be unwilling to act independently from President Donald Trump. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Blanche had failed to demonstrate he would be willing to stand up to the president when necessary. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout the decades since the Watergate crisis, both parties have consistently recognized the importance of an attorney general who can and will stand up to the president and say no, and serve as an attorney general in defense of the Constitution, not just the agenda of any one president,\u201d Coons said. \u201cWill acting Attorney General Blanche meet that standard? We have clear evidence he will not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Coons also argued that Blanche\u2019s agreement to eliminate the Anti-Weaponization Fund was insufficient, saying nothing would prevent him from reinstating it after confirmation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The committee\u2019s top Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), focused much of his criticism on the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. <\/span>Durbin accused Blanche of overseeing efforts to review the files for references to Trump and criticized the department\u2019s release of documents containing identifying information about Epstein survivors while, he argued, shielding powerful associates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Blanche refused to tell me who gave this order, but former Attorney General Bondi made it clear, saying Blanche was in charge of the Epstein files,\u201d Durbin said. Durbin also criticized Blanche\u2019s recent meeting with Epstein survivors, calling it a \u201cbox-checking exercise\u201d and accusing him of refusing to pursue investigative leads suggested by the victims.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blanche has consistently defended the department\u2019s handling of the Epstein investigation, arguing the Justice Department has been transparent and remains committed to prosecuting anyone found to have committed crimes connected to Epstein.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier in the confirmation process, Blanche told lawmakers: \u201cWe have been extraordinarily transparent. There are no closed investigations. If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month that there\u2019s an individual who we can investigate, indict, and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe that we will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans also questioned Blanche during his confirmation process on issues including mail-order abortion litigation and the Justice Department\u2019s review of the <\/span>D.C. Five case<\/span> involving five aborted babies recovered from a Washington abortion clinic in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, more than 50 Republican lawmakers urged Blanche to investigate whether the babies were victims of illegal partial-birth abortions or infanticide. The Justice Department has since said it is reviewing the matter and will investigate any credible allegations of criminal conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

President Trump strongly backed Blanche\u2019s nomination throughout the confirmation process, praising his performance as acting attorney general. \u201cTodd has done a PHENOMENAL job,\u201d Trump wrote on <\/span>Truth Social.<\/span> \u201cHe is tough, brilliant, and 100% LOYAL to our Constitution, and the American People.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more WATCH: Massive Brown Bear Comes Within Feet Of Fisherman To Grab Salmon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, clearing a major hurdle in his bid to become the nation\u2019s permanent attorney general after senators voted along party lines, 12-10, to send his nomination to the full Senate.The committee vote came after weeks of scrutiny over Blanche\u2019s tenure as acting attorney general and his previous role as President Donald Trump\u2019s personal defense attorney. Senate Republicans are now expected to move toward a confirmation vote before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. A Senate Republican source told The Daily Wire that leadership\u2019s goal is to hold a confirmation vote before senators depart Washington later this week.The nomination drew heightened attention in recent weeks as several Republican senators sought additional assurances from Blanche on issues ranging from the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to the administration\u2019s abandoned \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund.\u201dRepublican Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX), who had previously withheld their support while negotiating with the Justice Department over the fund, ultimately voted to advance Blanche after receiving written commitments that the department would formally rescind the Anti-Weaponization Fund. Tillis had also pressed Blanche to meet personally with victims connected to Jeffrey Epstein and work with lawmakers to ensure the controversial fund could not be revived.Cornyn said the agreement provided the assurances he had been seeking. \u201cThey\u2019ve been consistent about their assertion on behalf of the United States of America that the weaponization fund is dead, and of course I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation,\u201d Cornyn said. \u201cGiven this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation, and I will vote to advance him out of the committee today.\u201d Cornyn also argued that confirming a permanent attorney general would provide stability for the Justice Department.Democrats remained unanimously opposed to Blanche\u2019s nomination, arguing he would be unwilling to act independently from President Donald Trump. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Blanche had failed to demonstrate he would be willing to stand up to the president when necessary. \u201cThroughout the decades since the Watergate crisis, both parties have consistently recognized the importance of an attorney general who can and will stand up to the president and say no, and serve as an attorney general in defense of the Constitution, not just the agenda of any one president,\u201d Coons said. \u201cWill acting Attorney General Blanche meet that standard? We have clear evidence he will not.\u201dCoons also argued that Blanche\u2019s agreement to eliminate the Anti-Weaponization Fund was insufficient, saying nothing would prevent him from reinstating it after confirmation.The committee\u2019s top Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), focused much of his criticism on the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Durbin accused Blanche of overseeing efforts to review the files for references to Trump and criticized the department\u2019s release of documents containing identifying information about Epstein survivors while, he argued, shielding powerful associates.\u00a0\u201cMr. Blanche refused to tell me who gave this order, but former Attorney General Bondi made it clear, saying Blanche was in charge of the Epstein files,\u201d Durbin said. Durbin also criticized Blanche\u2019s recent meeting with Epstein survivors, calling it a \u201cbox-checking exercise\u201d and accusing him of refusing to pursue investigative leads suggested by the victims.Blanche has consistently defended the department\u2019s handling of the Epstein investigation, arguing the Justice Department has been transparent and remains committed to prosecuting anyone found to have committed crimes connected to Epstein.Earlier in the confirmation process, Blanche told lawmakers: \u201cWe have been extraordinarily transparent. There are no closed investigations. If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month that there\u2019s an individual who we can investigate, indict, and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe that we will.\u201dRepublicans also questioned Blanche during his confirmation process on issues including mail-order abortion litigation and the Justice Department\u2019s review of the D.C. Five case involving five aborted babies recovered from a Washington abortion clinic in 2022.Earlier this month, more than 50 Republican lawmakers urged Blanche to investigate whether the babies were victims of illegal partial-birth abortions or infanticide. The Justice Department has since said it is reviewing the matter and will investigate any credible allegations of criminal conduct.President Trump strongly backed Blanche\u2019s nomination throughout the confirmation process, praising his performance as acting attorney general. \u201cTodd has done a PHENOMENAL job,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social. \u201cHe is tough, brilliant, and 100% LOYAL to our Constitution, and the American People.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"\nTodd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, clearing a major hurdle in his bid to become the nation\u2019s permanent attorney general after senators voted along party lines, 12-10, to send his nomination to the full Senate.The committee vote came after weeks of scrutiny over Blanche\u2019s tenure as acting attorney general and his previous role as President Donald Trump\u2019s personal defense attorney. Senate Republicans are now expected to move toward a confirmation vote before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. A Senate Republican source told The Daily Wire that leadership\u2019s goal is to hold a confirmation vote before senators depart Washington later this week.The nomination drew heightened attention in recent weeks as several Republican senators sought additional assurances from Blanche on issues ranging from the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to the administration\u2019s abandoned \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund.\u201dRepublican Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX), who had previously withheld their support while negotiating with the Justice Department over the fund, ultimately voted to advance Blanche after receiving written commitments that the department would formally rescind the Anti-Weaponization Fund. Tillis had also pressed Blanche to meet personally with victims connected to Jeffrey Epstein and work with lawmakers to ensure the controversial fund could not be revived.Cornyn said the agreement provided the assurances he had been seeking. \u201cThey\u2019ve been consistent about their assertion on behalf of the United States of America that the weaponization fund is dead, and of course I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation,\u201d Cornyn said. \u201cGiven this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation, and I will vote to advance him out of the committee today.\u201d Cornyn also argued that confirming a permanent attorney general would provide stability for the Justice Department.Democrats remained unanimously opposed to Blanche\u2019s nomination, arguing he would be unwilling to act independently from President Donald Trump. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Blanche had failed to demonstrate he would be willing to stand up to the president when necessary. \u201cThroughout the decades since the Watergate crisis, both parties have consistently recognized the importance of an attorney general who can and will stand up to the president and say no, and serve as an attorney general in defense of the Constitution, not just the agenda of any one president,\u201d Coons said. \u201cWill acting Attorney General Blanche meet that standard? We have clear evidence he will not.\u201dCoons also argued that Blanche\u2019s agreement to eliminate the Anti-Weaponization Fund was insufficient, saying nothing would prevent him from reinstating it after confirmation.The committee\u2019s top Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), focused much of his criticism on the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Durbin accused Blanche of overseeing efforts to review the files for references to Trump and criticized the department\u2019s release of documents containing identifying information about Epstein survivors while, he argued, shielding powerful associates.\u00a0\u201cMr. Blanche refused to tell me who gave this order, but former Attorney General Bondi made it clear, saying Blanche was in charge of the Epstein files,\u201d Durbin said. Durbin also criticized Blanche\u2019s recent meeting with Epstein survivors, calling it a \u201cbox-checking exercise\u201d and accusing him of refusing to pursue investigative leads suggested by the victims.Blanche has consistently defended the department\u2019s handling of the Epstein investigation, arguing the Justice Department has been transparent and remains committed to prosecuting anyone found to have committed crimes connected to Epstein.Earlier in the confirmation process, Blanche told lawmakers: \u201cWe have been extraordinarily transparent. There are no closed investigations. If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month that there\u2019s an individual who we can investigate, indict, and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe that we will.\u201dRepublicans also questioned Blanche during his confirmation process on issues including mail-order abortion litigation and the Justice Department\u2019s review of the D.C. Five case involving five aborted babies recovered from a Washington abortion clinic in 2022.Earlier this month, more than 50 Republican lawmakers urged Blanche to investigate whether the babies were victims of illegal partial-birth abortions or infanticide. The Justice Department has since said it is reviewing the matter and will investigate any credible allegations of criminal conduct.President Trump strongly backed Blanche\u2019s nomination throughout the confirmation process, praising his performance as acting attorney general. \u201cTodd has done a PHENOMENAL job,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social. \u201cHe is tough, brilliant, and 100% LOYAL to our Constitution, and the American People.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-04T16:38:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-04T16:38:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017\"},\"wordCount\":826,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/155358196c02566505dd90c58c4987fb.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2017\",\"name\":\"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing - 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Senate Republicans are now expected to move toward a confirmation vote before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. A Senate Republican source told The Daily Wire that leadership\u2019s goal is to hold a confirmation vote before senators depart Washington later this week.The nomination drew heightened attention in recent weeks as several Republican senators sought additional assurances from Blanche on issues ranging from the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to the administration\u2019s abandoned \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund.\u201dRepublican Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX), who had previously withheld their support while negotiating with the Justice Department over the fund, ultimately voted to advance Blanche after receiving written commitments that the department would formally rescind the Anti-Weaponization Fund. Tillis had also pressed Blanche to meet personally with victims connected to Jeffrey Epstein and work with lawmakers to ensure the controversial fund could not be revived.Cornyn said the agreement provided the assurances he had been seeking. \u201cThey\u2019ve been consistent about their assertion on behalf of the United States of America that the weaponization fund is dead, and of course I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation,\u201d Cornyn said. \u201cGiven this agreement with Mr. Blanche, I expect the department to live up to this in future litigation, and I will vote to advance him out of the committee today.\u201d Cornyn also argued that confirming a permanent attorney general would provide stability for the Justice Department.Democrats remained unanimously opposed to Blanche\u2019s nomination, arguing he would be unwilling to act independently from President Donald Trump. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Blanche had failed to demonstrate he would be willing to stand up to the president when necessary. \u201cThroughout the decades since the Watergate crisis, both parties have consistently recognized the importance of an attorney general who can and will stand up to the president and say no, and serve as an attorney general in defense of the Constitution, not just the agenda of any one president,\u201d Coons said. \u201cWill acting Attorney General Blanche meet that standard? We have clear evidence he will not.\u201dCoons also argued that Blanche\u2019s agreement to eliminate the Anti-Weaponization Fund was insufficient, saying nothing would prevent him from reinstating it after confirmation.The committee\u2019s top Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), focused much of his criticism on the Justice Department\u2019s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Durbin accused Blanche of overseeing efforts to review the files for references to Trump and criticized the department\u2019s release of documents containing identifying information about Epstein survivors while, he argued, shielding powerful associates.\u00a0\u201cMr. Blanche refused to tell me who gave this order, but former Attorney General Bondi made it clear, saying Blanche was in charge of the Epstein files,\u201d Durbin said. Durbin also criticized Blanche\u2019s recent meeting with Epstein survivors, calling it a \u201cbox-checking exercise\u201d and accusing him of refusing to pursue investigative leads suggested by the victims.Blanche has consistently defended the department\u2019s handling of the Epstein investigation, arguing the Justice Department has been transparent and remains committed to prosecuting anyone found to have committed crimes connected to Epstein.Earlier in the confirmation process, Blanche told lawmakers: \u201cWe have been extraordinarily transparent. There are no closed investigations. If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month that there\u2019s an individual who we can investigate, indict, and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe that we will.\u201dRepublicans also questioned Blanche during his confirmation process on issues including mail-order abortion litigation and the Justice Department\u2019s review of the D.C. Five case involving five aborted babies recovered from a Washington abortion clinic in 2022.Earlier this month, more than 50 Republican lawmakers urged Blanche to investigate whether the babies were victims of illegal partial-birth abortions or infanticide. The Justice Department has since said it is reviewing the matter and will investigate any credible allegations of criminal conduct.President Trump strongly backed Blanche\u2019s nomination throughout the confirmation process, praising his performance as acting attorney general. \u201cTodd has done a PHENOMENAL job,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social. \u201cHe is tough, brilliant, and 100% LOYAL to our Constitution, and the American People.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-08-04T16:38:50+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing","datePublished":"2026-08-04T16:38:50+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017"},"wordCount":826,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/155358196c02566505dd90c58c4987fb.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2017","name":"Todd Blanche Advances To Full Senate Confirmation Vote After Heated Hearing - 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