Blanche says 'every promise of the American dream is within reach' if families feel safe

WASHINGTON, DC: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told senators on Wednesday, July 15, that "every promise of the American dream is within reach" when families feel safe, using his attorney general confirmation hearing to argue that the Trump Justice Department is already rebuilding public trust through public safety gains.

His remarks came as he sought to win over the Senate Judiciary Committee despite expected resistance from some Republicans and sharp criticism from Democrats.

Blanche framed safety as the foundation of his nomination, saying the department's recent results prove it is delivering on that mission.

Todd Blanche ties safety to public trust

Opening the hearing, Blanche said his focus as attorney general would be ensuring Americans can live without fear.

"When a family can send their kids to school, walk their neighborhood after dark, and build a life without fear, every promise of the American dream is within reach. When they cannot, none of it is. That's my job: securing safety for every American," he said.

Blanche pointed to a series of Justice Department statistics to support his argument, saying homicides are down roughly 20% nationwide and that the US has recorded its lowest homicide rate since 1900. 

He also said violent crime arrests have increased nearly 114%, almost 5,000 child abusers and human smugglers have been removed from the streets, and the department has filed nearly 100,000 indictments and informations since January 20, 2025.

He stressed that those figures represented more than data points.

"These are not just numbers. Each one is a family that still has its son or daughter, and an officer who came home for dinner," Blanche said.

Blanche also highlighted federal partnerships in Washington and Memphis, saying homicides in Washington are down about 60% while overall crime in Memphis has fallen by more than 40%.

He added that authorities seized thousands of illegal guns, located more than 150 missing children, and reopened parks and public spaces that families had previously avoided.

Todd Blanche defends DOJ under Trump

Blanche also argued the Justice Department is restoring confidence after what he described as politically motivated actions during the Biden administration.

"In recent years, we watched the Justice Department turn against many of you and a former president and it damaged the public's faith in justice," he said. "We are fixing that."

The current deputy attorney general, who is also leading the department in an acting capacity, told lawmakers he was "here today to earn your trust once more" as questions swirled over whether Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas would support his nomination.

Democrats challenge Todd Blanche's record

Democrats used the hearing to question Blanche's qualifications and decisions at the department.

Sen Dick Durbin of Illinois criticized Blanche over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and his role in a legal settlement involving President Donald Trump that led to the brief creation of an "anti-weaponization fund."

"This nation deserves an Attorney General who loves the Constitution more than he loves the President," Durbin said. "Mr Blanche, you have proven beyond a reasonable doubt you are not that person."

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley defended Blanche, praising the department's crime-fighting efforts and calling the current Justice Department "the most responsive" he has worked with.

Grassley said the department has produced about 43,000 pages of records for Congress since January 2025, roughly three times the number provided by the Biden Justice Department over a comparable period.