Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and said he “has full faith” in FBI Director Kash Patel while facing two days of Senate Judiciary questioning on his nomination to be permanent attorney general.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as senators probed his record on the Jeffrey Epstein documents, a proposed $1.8 billion DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund and his prior handling of cryptocurrency enforcement while serving in the department.
Market Reaction
Not applicable: the source does not supply market price moves, tickers or trading data tied to this hearing.
Why It Matters
Blanche would lead the Justice Department if confirmed. Senators focused on whether the department protected victim privacy, whether Blanche personally raised clemency or pardon issues when meeting Ghislaine Maxwell in prison, and whether his prior policy choices created conflicts tied to his personal cryptocurrency holdings.
Key Issues Raised at the Hearing
- Faith in FBI leadership: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) repeatedly pressed Blanche about FBI Director Kash Patel, questioning Patel’s travel, use of the FBI jet and personal conduct. Blanche responded, “I have full faith in Director Patel and the work that he’s doing every day.” Whitehouse called the answer inadequate.
- Epstein document release and redactions: Blanche said DOJ reviewers were “qualified, experienced attorneys” who applied redactions and that mistakes were corrected promptly. He maintained some withheld records were nonresponsive, including documents connected to a different person with the same surname.
- Meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell: Blanche testified he did not discuss pardon or clemency with Maxwell when he interviewed her at a Florida federal prison last summer. He said the subsequent transfer of Maxwell to a lower-security Texas facility was ordered because of threats to her safety.
- Anti-weaponization fund: Blanche faced questions about his decision to create an $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate alleged victims of DOJ prosecutorial overreach. He said he canceled the fund after bipartisan criticism; President Trump has since discussed reviving the concept.
- Cryptocurrency and ethics: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) criticized Blanche for holding cryptocurrency last year while the DOJ scaled back crypto enforcement and dismantled the department’s crypto enforcement team. Durbin said Blanche disclosed roughly $160,000 in crypto holdings and was told to divest; Blanche has not fully answered Durbin’s public criticisms during the hearing.
Context & Background
Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since early April, after President Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi. Blanche previously gained national attention as a criminal defense lawyer for Trump. His nomination to become permanent attorney general triggered intense scrutiny from both parties because the DOJ oversees high-profile prosecutions and sensitive investigative materials.
Survivors’ Response and Political Pressure
A group of Epstein victims released a video urging senators to block Blanche’s confirmation, citing harms they attribute to the DOJ’s release of victim-identifying information. Survivor Annie Farmer said Blanche “has failed survivors at every turn” and criticized his handling of survivor outreach and communications.
Senate Dynamics
Durbin, the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat, described a private meeting with Blanche in which Blanche characterized his decision to halt the fund as a mistake and indicated willingness to work with Congress to bar its creation. Durbin said Blanche’s explanations were unpersuasive and raised questions about whether officials in the administration were profiting while in public service.
Leadership and Oversight Questions
Senators also probed the DOJ’s role in prosecutions last fall that targeted figures President Trump has identified as political opponents, including cases brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Those cases were dismissed after a judge found the interim U.S. attorney who filed them had been invalidly appointed; senators asked Blanche about oversight and the independence of federal prosecutions.
Key Quotes
- On FBI Director Kash Patel: “I have full faith in Director Patel and the work that he’s doing every day,” — Todd Blanche.
- On the document review: “The reviewers were qualified, experienced attorneys within the department and the FBI. They took pains to apply appropriate redactions,” — Todd Blanche.
- On redaction errors: “There were mistakes that were made, and so approximately 1% of the redactions had to be fixed after we released the Epstein files,” — Todd Blanche.
What’s Next
The Senate Judiciary Committee is conducting a two-day confirmation hearing. Senators will continue questioning Blanche on the second day. Blanche’s confirmation would place him in charge of the Justice Department, including the FBI, civil and criminal litigators, and nationwide enforcement priorities.
Bottom Line for Traders
This hearing is primarily a legal and political proceeding; the source provides no market data or tickers tied to Blanche’s nomination. Investors and market participants should note that leadership changes at the Justice Department can affect regulatory enforcement and litigation risk for companies, but no market moves or specific market impacts are reported in the source.
