Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) questioned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 [1].

The hearing serves as a critical assessment of Blanche's suitability to lead the Department of Justice, focusing on potential conflicts of interest and his relationship with President Trump.

Blanche assumed the role of acting attorney general in early April 2026 [2], following the firing of Pam Bondi. During the proceedings in Washington, D.C., Booker questioned the nominee on several controversial Department of Justice decisions, including the handling of the Epstein files.

A primary point of contention involved the DOJ's anti-weaponization fund, which totals $1.8 billion [3]. The status of this fund remains a point of dispute among observers; some reports suggest the fund is effectively dead, while others indicate it may still be active [3].

Senators sought to determine if Blanche can maintain the independence of the Justice Department while serving as a close ally to the president. The questioning focused on whether recent DOJ actions were influenced by political pressure, a central theme of the committee's inquiry.

Blanche's tenure as acting head of the department has been marked by scrutiny over the administration's legal priorities. The committee's goal is to ensure that the permanent appointment of the Attorney General adheres to established norms of impartiality, and the rule of law.

“Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) questioned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing”

The confirmation process for Todd Blanche highlights a deepening tension between executive loyalty and the traditional independence of the U.S. Department of Justice. The focus on the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund suggests that the Senate is specifically concerned with how DOJ resources are being redirected to align with the current administration's political goals.