Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche said to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that he is not a “yes‑man” for President Donald Trump [1].

The testimony comes as senators probe whether Blanche can maintain independence from the president or if his loyalty to his former client will compromise the Department of Justice.

During the hearing on July 15, 2024 [1], lawmakers questioned Blanche about his professional relationship with Trump. At one point, Blanche said, “I'm his lawyer” [1]. He quickly corrected the statement, saying that he was formerly the president's lawyer and now serves as the deputy attorney general [1].

Blanche faced intense questioning regarding his ability to make impartial legal decisions. The exchange focused on the transition from private legal counsel to a public official overseeing federal prosecutions. He said that his current role requires a different standard of conduct than his previous private practice, a distinction central to the committee's inquiry [1].

The Senate Judiciary Committee is tasked with vetting the nominee's credentials and potential conflicts of interest. Blanche's assertion that he will not simply agree with the president's directives is intended to address concerns about the politicization of the U.S. legal system [1].

Throughout the proceedings, Blanche maintained that his experience does not preclude him from serving the public interest. He said, “I'm not a yes‑man” [1].

“"I'm not a yes‑man."”

The tension in Blanche's testimony reflects a broader constitutional debate over the independence of the Department of Justice. By correcting his status from 'lawyer' to 'deputy attorney general' and denying the 'yes-man' label, Blanche is attempting to signal a formal break from personal loyalty to professional duty, though his history as Trump's defense counsel remains a primary point of contention for committee members.