By Michael Katz | Thursday, June 4, 2026, 3:45 PM EDT
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation as deputy attorney general has drawn sharp scrutiny from Democrats, who questioned whether his former role as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney would undermine the independence required at the Department of Justice.
President Trump stated Wednesday he expects a quick confirmation process for Blanche, but many Republican senators anticipate significant hurdles in replacing Pam Bondi, whom Trump fired in April.
Opposition from just one Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee could derail Blanche’s nomination.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley expressed optimism “based on the proposition that every Republican on the committee voted for him less than a year ago.”
However, other Republicans on the committee, including Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, remain skeptical.
“What we need to do right now is focus on the [Anti-Weaponization] Fund, or he’s not going to have a very good time in Judiciary Committee,” Tillis, who is retiring at the end of the year, told reporters when asked about Blanche’s expected nomination. “Just think about what the Democrats would do to him.”
Blanche stated Tuesday that the Trump administration is scrapping the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, which would compensate individuals deemed victims of “lawfare” by federal authorities.
Cornyn, who lost last week’s Republican primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and will leave office in January, noted: “I think it depends on his answers to questions that I intend to ask him at the Judiciary Committee.”
“The attorney general is not the president’s private lawyer, so it’s sort of by its nature a really hard job to do,” Cornyn added. “But I want to make sure he understands the difference and is committed to enforcing the law.”
Another committee Republican, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, said: “I really don’t know” whether Blanche could navigate committee approval or full Senate confirmation. He remarked, “I’m keeping an open mind.”
