Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears during a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building, June 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
If nominated for attorney general, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s candidacy is anticipated to encounter obstacles in the Senate.
President Donald Trump declared his intention to nominate Blanche during a gathering on Wednesday evening at the White House.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, held the position of deputy attorney general before the president appointed him to serve as acting attorney general following Pam Bondi’s dismissal in April.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears during a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building, June 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Blanche informed journalists that he is “honored and humbled” by the nomination.
“I was with him last night at the dinner when he when he said that,” Blanche stated at a news conference concerning fraud arrests in Columbus, Ohio. “I will collaborate with the senators. I have a strong rapport with the Senate on both sides. I do not disregard phone calls. I will convene with anyone who wishes to meet with me.”
Blanche’s most significant hurdle might lie before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which must vote on his nomination prior to the full Senate’s vote for approval. Blanche can ultimately afford to lose only one Republican vote on the committee.
Blanche has lost favor with several Senate Republicans after becoming the public face of the politically unpopular “Anti-Weaponization Fund” on Capitol Hill, and the Judiciary Committee includes some of the fund’s most vocal GOP detractors.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a member of the Judiciary Committee, has frequently criticized the fund. He has also readily obstructed Trump’s nominees; his blocking of Kevin Warsh’s nomination for Federal Reserve chairman may have contributed to the Justice Department dropping its lawsuit against former Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
Tillis informed reporters earlier on Thursday that he believed Blanche’s prospects for confirmation “increase immensely” with the anti-weaponization fund “off the table.” However, he indicated he remains undecided.
“I actually believe that getting this issue off the table improves Todd’s chances of getting through Judiciary and getting through the floor,” Tillis remarked. “If this is still unresolved, can you imagine the Democrats’ actions during a confirmation hearing and how that might influence some of our members?”
“I haven’t made a decision yet. The crucial factor for Todd or anyone appearing before the Judiciary Committee is their stance on January the 6th,” Tillis stated. “They must not, for even a moment, suggest that individuals who assaulted police officers like these here (gesturing to Capitol Police officers) were acting righteously. Any hint of such a statement means you won’t get my vote in Judiciary.”
Sen. John Cornyn, who recently lost the Texas GOP primary after Trump backed his opponent Ken Paxton, also sits on the panel. Although Cornyn has consistently supported Trump’s nominees, he has also voiced strong opposition to the anti-weaponization fund. Without the pressure of re-election, he might also pose a challenge for Blanche.
Cornyn told reporters earlier on Thursday that he is also undecided regarding his support for Blanche’s nomination.
“The issue with the office of Attorney General is that while you are a member of the president’s Cabinet, you are also the chief law enforcement officer for the nation, not the president’s personal attorney. Therefore, I will be posing questions to secure commitments on this matter,” Cornyn commented.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also opposed the fund. Even committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has conveyed skepticism.
When asked on Thursday about Blanche’s confirmation prospects, Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded that it was “difficult to ascertain.”
“I mean, I don’t — I think you know, obviously, most of our members tend to be quite deferential to the president’s choices for certain key roles, and he is already serving in the capacity and clearly has experience, which will benefit him. However, these are times when nothing is guaranteed or certain,” Thune stated.
It remains uncertain whether the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” alone would be sufficient to derail Blanche’s nomination, but it undeniably presents certain difficulties for him and foreshadows a potentially contentious hearing.
Blanche informed a House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday that the fund was defunct but declined to provide a written commitment to that effect.
“The rationale behind the fund is something President Trump has discussed for an extended period, namely the perception that numerous individuals in this country experienced their government being wielded against them,” Blanche explained during an exchange with ranking Democrat Grace Meng. “The reasons for the fund, I believe, remain as significant as they were previously, but we are not proceeding with the fund.”
When Meng subsequently inquired during the hearing if he would formalize that commitment in writing, Blanche stated he did not grasp the necessity.
“I am informing you of our actions, meaning, what is the — why do I need to document something in writing if I am telling you what we are doing?”
After Meng suggested it would “restore considerable confidence regarding this matter,” Blanche responded, “I am not committing to doing anything in writing. Okay, I mean, I will consider it,” Blanche concluded.
Tillis also expressed reservations about Blanche, partly due to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
During an appearance at a conservative conference earlier this year, Blanche praised Trump’s pardons for January 6th rioters.
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Tillis reiterated. “The critical factor for Todd or anyone undergoing scrutiny by the Judiciary Committee is their firm stance on January the 6th. They must not, even for an instant, suggest that individuals who assaulted police officers like these here (pointing to Capitol Police officers) were acting righteously. Any proximity to such a statement eliminates any chance of securing my vote in Judiciary.”
Should the Judiciary Committee approve Blanche, he would still require confirmation on the Senate floor.
This stage could also prove challenging — he would only be permitted to lose four GOP votes for confirmation. There are at least that many Republicans who might harbor reservations about supporting him following the controversy surrounding the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”
ABC News’ Luke Barr, Lalee Ibssa, Katherine Faulders, and Nicholas Kerr contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com