Former Attorney General Bill Barr has called on Senate Republicans to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, arguing that the former Trump defense lawyer's close relationship with the president should be viewed as a strength, not a conflict of interest.
Barr, who served as attorney general under the first Trump administration, said Blanche should be confirmed, calling him well-qualified and stating that he "will run the department as effectively as anyone could under President Trump, providing much-needed leadership and stability."
Barr's appeal comes as Blanche faces a potentially difficult confirmation process in the Senate, with Republicans holding a slim 53-seat majority. Several GOP senators have not committed to supporting the nomination, raising concerns about Blanche's past as President Donald Trump's personal defense attorney.
Barr countered criticism that Blanche's past role makes him too conflicted to lead the Justice Department. He argued that a successful criminal-defense lawyer like Blanche is not a toady who sugarcoats the truth to his client, but rather someone who can build trust and deliver hard advice to the president.
Barr further dismissed claims that Blanche would simply carry out Trump's wishes without independent judgment. He stated that Blanche has a strong track record of giving the president straight-from-the-shoulder advice and pushing back on bad ideas, even if he doesn't always prevail.
Blanche has been heavily scrutinized for leading prosecutions against some of Trump's biggest foes, including the newest indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. He's also faced pushback over the Justice Department's aborted effort to create an Anti-Weaponization Fund, which has contributed to uncertainty over his confirmation.
Several Republican senators, including Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn, have withheld their support for Blanche's nomination, citing concerns surrounding the scuttled fund. Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Blanche's nomination are scheduled for mid-July, as Republicans weigh whether to advance Trump's nominee to the full Senate.
Barr served as attorney general under both President George H.W. Bush and President Trump, and later became one of Trump's most prominent critics over his claims of widespread voter fraud following the 2020 election.
