Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) questioned acting Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 [1].
The hearing serves as a critical test of the Department of Justice's independence under the current administration. Senators are scrutinizing whether Blanche can maintain a neutral legal posture given his professional history with the president.
During the proceedings in Washington, D.C., Sen. Schiff focused on the relationship between the nominee and the executive branch. "Mr. Blanche, you have been a close confidant of the President. How can we be assured of the Department’s independence?" Schiff said [2].
Blanche faced questioning regarding several controversial DOJ actions, including the handling of high-profile indictments, and the release of Jeffrey Epstein files. When addressing the Epstein case, Blanche said, "I am sorry for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and their families" [3].
The committee also examined the financial priorities of the department. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) raised concerns regarding a specific expenditure, saying that the government needs answers about the DOJ’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund [4].
This confirmation process follows a period of leadership instability at the agency. The dossier notes that Pam Bondi was fired in early April 2026 [5]. The vacancy left by her departure has increased the pressure on the Senate to finalize a permanent appointment to lead the nation's top law enforcement agency.
Blanche's testimony comes amid conflicting reports regarding his current status, with some sources identifying him as the nominee and others as the acting Attorney General [6]. Regardless of the title, the committee remains focused on the potential for political influence within the DOJ.
“"Mr. Blanche, you have been a close confidant of the President. How can we be assured of the Department’s independence?"”
The intensity of the questioning reflects a broader constitutional tension regarding the independence of the Department of Justice. By focusing on Blanche's personal ties to the president and the allocation of the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, senators are attempting to establish a public record that limits the Attorney General's ability to use the DOJ as a political tool.
