Overview
- The White House sent Blanche’s nomination to the Senate on Monday, June 8, 2026, formally starting the confirmation process for the acting attorney general.
- Blanche has served as acting attorney general since President Trump fired Pam Bondi in April and was confirmed as deputy attorney general in 2025 after previously working as one of Trump’s personal defense lawyers.
- Blanche helped negotiate an IRS settlement that included a proposed $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponization” fund; he told a House subcommittee on June 2 that the department would not pursue the fund but declined to put that withdrawal in writing while lawsuits and a court injunction remain active.
- Pam Bondi told Congress she delegated oversight of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein materials to Blanche, and critics say the DOJ’s publication included redaction errors and withheld documents tied to Blanche’s January interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and her later prison transfer.
- Republicans hold a narrow 53‑47 Senate majority so a small number of GOP defections could decide confirmation, with Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley backing Blanche and senators such as Thom Tillis signaling conditions or reservations that make the outcome uncertain.