Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) questioned witnesses Thursday during the second day of confirmation hearings for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche [1].

The proceedings aim to determine if Blanche is suitable to lead the U.S. Department of Justice. The nomination follows the firing of Pam Bondi in early April 2026 [1].

Welch and other committee members focused on a series of legal and ethical concerns during the session in Washington, D.C. [1, 2]. The questioning touched upon the handling of reporter subpoenas, and the status of the Epstein files [2, 3].

Additional scrutiny focused on Department of Justice funding and an ongoing IRS lawsuit [2, 3]. The witnesses provided testimony as the committee weighed the nominee's past legal work and his proposed approach to federal law enforcement.

The political stakes for the nomination remain high. Sen. John Cornyn said, "One G.O.P. vote against him could sink the nomination" [3].

The hearings began on July 15, 2026 [4], and continued through July 16, 2026 [1]. The second day of testimony served to further probe the nominee's readiness to manage the nation's top legal office amid significant partisan division.

“One G.O.P. vote against him could sink the nomination.”

The confirmation process for Todd Blanche highlights a precarious political balance within the Senate. Because a single Republican defection could derail the appointment, the Judiciary Committee's focus on high-profile controversies—such as the Epstein files and IRS litigation—suggests that the nominee's viability depends on avoiding any testimony that could alienate moderate GOP members.