'You're still Trump's personal attorney': Durbin clashes with Blanche over DOJ trust, Epstein

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, faced an immediate confrontation on Wednesday, July 15, as his Senate confirmation hearing opened with competing visions for the Justice Department.

Blanche vowed to rebuild public confidence in an agency he argued had been "turned against" Trump, while Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats questioned whether the former Trump attorney could ever serve independently.

The sharp exchange between Blanche and Sen Dick Durbin (D-Ill) set the tone for a hearing expected to focus heavily on the Epstein files, alleged political weaponization of the DOJ and Blanche's close ties to the president.

Todd Blanche promises DOJ reset

Opening the hearing, Blanche described leading the Justice Department as fulfilling his "American dream" and defended the administration's record over the past year.

"Above all, we are restoring American trust," Blanche told senators. "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. We are fixing that."

He highlighted federal law enforcement operations in Washington, DC, and Memphis, expanded prosecutions targeting alleged gang members and human smugglers along the southern border, and major fraud investigations as evidence of the department's priorities.

Blanche also said that he welcomed scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as he sought confirmation.

Dick Durbin questions Todd Blanche's loyalty

Durbin quickly challenged Blanche's claims, arguing the nominee had repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to Trump rather than to the Constitution.

"You are still President Trump's personal attorney," Durbin said, accusing Blanche of placing the president's political interests ahead of the Justice Department's traditional independence.

The Illinois Democrat alleged the department had ignored court orders, removed career officials unwilling to advance Trump's agenda, and pursued politically motivated prosecutions.

He argued the country deserved an attorney general focused on enforcing the law rather than protecting the president.

Epstein files dominate hearing

Much of Durbin's criticism centered on Blanche's handling of the Epstein files controversy.

The senator accused Blanche of overseeing a review process that drew widespread criticism, questioned his meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell before her transfer to a minimum-security prison and urged him to meet directly with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

"They should at least hear from their government that they take it seriously," Durbin said.

The Epstein investigation has become one of the central issues surrounding Blanche's nomination, with Democrats arguing it raises broader concerns about transparency and accountability within the department.

Confirmation fight intensifies

The opening exchange underscored the broader political battle surrounding Blanche's nomination. 

Republicans have praised him for leading what they describe as efforts to restore fairness after years of politically charged investigations involving Trump.

Democrats, however, contend that Blanche's close relationship with the president makes it impossible for him to operate independently as the nation's top law enforcement official.

With Republicans holding the Senate majority, Blanche remains the favorite to secure confirmation.

But the contentious hearing demonstrated that questions over Justice Department independence and Blanche's relationship with Trump are likely to dominate the confirmation process in the days ahead.