Todd Blanche, Attorney General nominee, will face senators Wednesday in a high-stakes confirmation hearing that will test Republican unity on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The hearing marks the first major nomination fight since the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said, "My colleagues and I are working to fill Senator Graham's seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee before the Committee votes on Todd Blanche's nomination next week."
Republicans are navigating their first major nomination battle without Graham, a former Judiciary Committee chairman known for his courtroom-style questioning and command of confirmation fights.
Blanche has been a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, serving as his personal defense attorney and helping lead his criminal defense against cases Trump and his allies denounced as politically motivated.
He was appointed by Trump as Deputy Attorney General and later tapped to fill former Attorney General Pam Bondi's shoes.
Conservative leaders have penned a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, urging him to confirm Blanche, arguing that he has already proven he will "fight back." The letter cited Blanche's clerkships, his time as a federal prosecutor, and his work in private practice.
Democrats have already signaled strong opposition to making Blanche's acting appointment permanent, citing his close ties to Trump. "He's got a record," said Vermont Sen. Peter Welch. "It's not what he says. It's what he's done."
The hearing is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. ET, and will likely be closely watched as it marks a significant test of Republican unity on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for Blanche's nomination, and will likely set the tone for future confirmation battles on the committee.
