Trump administration live updates: A.G. nominee Todd Blanche to face scrutiny at high-stakes Senate hearing
Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Blanche yesterday to discuss several of his concerns ahead of today’s confirmation hearing.
Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that Blanche told him “I made a mistake” on the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which is expected to be a major topic during the hearing.
Durbin said Blanche repeated to him that he did not want to see the fund move forward, which the senator said he then he suggested Blanche put in writing.
The fund was proposed as a way to compensate alleged victims of politically motivated targeting by the federal government.
Durbin also said he discussed the Justice Department’s handling of the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trump’s IRS settlement with Blanche. The IRS settlement over the leak of Trump’s tax returns several years ago led to the creation of the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which Blanche said last month would not proceed.
The senator also said he raised the question of administration election interference with Blanche.
“I said, ‘Let me just tell you, as I sit here, my greatest fear is that somehow or another you’re going to interfere in the next election,'” Durbin said. “And he said, ‘No, we won’t.'”