Jul 15 Watch 5:19 Senators question Blanche on Trump loyalty, Jan. 6 cases and Epstein files By Ali Rogin, Jonah Anderson Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for testimony on his nomination to serve permanently in the role. Blanche faced questions about his record as President Trump’s personal lawyer, the fate of a proposed settlement fund… Continue watching
Jul 15 WATCH: Blanche defends his handling of Epstein files By Maria Ramirez Uribe The nominee for attorney general acknowledged that his department made redaction mistakes and said dozens of lawyers were on call to quickly correct the errors. Continue reading
Jul 15 WATCH: 'I'm his lawyer,' Blanche says of his relationship to Trump before correcting himself By Associated Press Todd Blanche represented President Donald Trump in multiple cases before joining the Justice Department under Trump's second term. Continue reading
Jul 14 Watch 7:43 The unconventional career of attorney general nominee Todd Blanche By Ali Rogin, Jonah Anderson Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will sit before a Senate panel for his hearing to be confirmed in that role permanently. It comes after he's been involved in a number of high-profile, controversial decisions, including investigations, indictments and the rollout… Continue watching
Jul 14 WATCH: Todd Blanche testifies in confirmation hearing for attorney general Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department's handling of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, telling his confirmation hearing Wednesday that though “mistakes were made,” the disclosure of the documents was an exercise in unprecedented transparency. Continue reading
Jun 12 Judge extends block on Trump's $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' By Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that the fund will remain blocked until further notice from the court. Continue reading
Jun 04 WATCH: Senate approves $70B immigration bill, rejects efforts to permanently ban 'anti-weaponization fund' By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Senators voted 52-47 to pass the $70 billion legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years, through the end of Trump’s term, after Democrats blocked the money for months. The bill will now… Continue reading
Jun 03 WATCH: Senate starts voting on legislation to fund immigration enforcement after settlement fund abandoned By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press The Senate voted 53-46 on Wednesday to begin debate on the roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. Continue reading
Jun 02 Watch 4:58 Justice Department scraps Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' after pushback from Congress By Lisa Desjardins, Ali Schmitz, Kyle Midura Acting Attorney General Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday that the Justice Department is scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.” It’s a setback for Trump, after Republican senators made clear they did not have the votes to advance a… Continue watching
Jun 02 WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies By Maria Ramirez Uribe “We're not moving forward with the fund,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. Continue reading