Todd Blanche walked into his Senate confirmation hearing as Trump’s nominee for Attorney General carrying a court-imposed sanctions ruling, a mass exodus of career Justice Department employees, and a wave of opposition from Epstein survivors — all before a single senator asked a question.

Story Highlights

• Blanche served as President Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney from 2023 to 2025 before becoming Acting Attorney General in April 2026.
• A federal judge hit Blanche with sanctions in May 2026 for filing a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for “improper purposes.”
• About 16,000 career Justice Department employees — roughly 25% of all attorneys — left under Blanche’s watch as Acting AG.
• Epstein survivors filmed a public service announcement urging senators to vote against Blanche, saying he failed to release all required files and exposed victim identities.

From Defense Lawyer to Acting AG

Blanche left his law firm in 2023 to represent Donald Trump as his personal criminal defense attorney. He worked Trump’s cases through 2025, including the Stormy Daniels hush money trial and federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump then tapped him as Deputy Attorney General. After Pam Bondi departed, Blanche stepped up as Acting Attorney General in April 2026 — making him the sitting head of the Justice Department now facing Senate confirmation.

That background is exactly what has some senators asking hard questions. Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn both said they were not yet committing to a “yes” vote. They want written assurances that Blanche will act independently — especially on a fund tied to the Trump administration and a controversial deal involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The core concern is simple: can a man who spent two years defending Trump personally now run the Justice Department for all Americans?

Sanctions, Staff Losses, and Survivor Testimony

In May 2026, a federal district court judge in Miami imposed Rule 11 sanctions on Blanche and other Trump lawyers. Judge Kathleen Williams ruled they filed a lawsuit against the IRS for “improper purposes” — calling it an attempt to divert taxpayer money for grievances “not defined in the law.” Cornyn specifically flagged this ruling, saying it raised concerns about Blanche’s judgment heading into the hearing.

The staffing picture inside the Justice Department is also alarming. About 16,000 career employees — around 25% of all department attorneys — left during Blanche’s time as Acting AG, according to Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection. Young, along with more than 1,200 former Justice Department officials, signed a letter urging the Senate to reject Blanche. They warned the departures are gutting core law enforcement functions the department depends on every day.

Epstein Files and Unanswered Questions

Epstein survivors Liz Stein and Joanna Harrison recorded a public service announcement that aired on NBC News in July 2026. They said Blanche released only 6 million of the roughly 8.5 million Epstein files — leaving 2.5 million withheld in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They also accused Blanche of exposing victim identities in released documents while redacting the names of alleged perpetrators. Harrison added that Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell before her transfer to a lower-security Texas prison, citing “safety concerns” — a move survivors called a slap in the face.

🚨🚨 @JohnCornyn says he’s “concerned” about a federal judge criticizing Todd Blanche’s involvement with the weaponization fund

“We’ll be prepared to ask him some questions about not just the weaponization fund, but the tax audit issue, but also whether or not the lawsuit that…

— Nicole Silverio (@NicoleMSilverio) July 14, 2026

Blanche has said he is open to meeting with survivors, but none of those meetings have happened. He has pledged to keep politics out of the Justice Department and described the fund at the center of Republican concerns as having “no limitation on claims” and not restricted to any party or case type. Still, senators Tillis and Cornyn want that in writing — not just verbal assurance. Whether Blanche can satisfy key Republican votes while facing this level of scrutiny from survivors, former officials, and even his own party will define the outcome of one of the most contested confirmation battles of Trump’s second term.

Sources:

cbsnews.com, judiciary.senate.gov, washingtonexaminer.com, punchbowl.news, federalnewsnetwork.com