Acting Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche misspoke during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, calling himself the lawyer for President Trump [1].
The slip occurred during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. The moment has sparked renewed scrutiny regarding the independence of the Department of Justice under Blanche's potential leadership.
Senators questioned Blanche about his personal relationship with the president, specifically asking if he considered himself a friend of the leader [1]. In response to the line of questioning, Blanche said, "I'm his lawyer" [1].
Blanche said, "I was his lawyer" [1], quickly correcting the statement. The nominee had previously served as legal counsel for the president in various capacities before being nominated for the top justice post.
The exchange focused on whether Blanche could maintain a professional distance from the executive branch while overseeing federal prosecutions. The Senate Judiciary Committee is tasked with vetting nominees to ensure they can operate without undue influence from the White House.
Blanche's previous role as the president's attorney has been a focal point of the confirmation process. Critics of the nomination argue that a former personal attorney may struggle to remain impartial when the Department of Justice handles cases involving the administration.
“"I'm his lawyer."”
The verbal slip by Todd Blanche reinforces a central tension in his confirmation process: the distinction between a government lawyer and a personal attorney. While a correction was made immediately, the phrasing suggests a lingering professional identity tied to the president, which may embolden senators who argue that the nominee lacks the necessary independence to lead the Department of Justice.
