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Cory Booker grills Todd Blanche at confirmation hearing

politicsJul 15, 2026889,133

At Todd Blanche’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Sen. Cory Booker pressed the acting attorney general on DOJ independence and on the department’s failure to redact the names of sexual-abuse survivors from court documents. Booker cited a letter from The Justice Connection signed by more than 1,200 former DOJ officials warning that Blanche’s personal allegiance to President Donald Trump makes him unfit to serve. Survivors told senators they have repeatedly requested meetings with Blanche and received no response, which Booker used to question Blanche’s commitment to victims. Blanche acknowledged his past role for Trump, telling senators “I’m his lawyer... was his lawyer,” a comment critics seized on as evidence of political closeness. Other senators at the hearing criticized Blanche’s handling of high-profile matters, including a recent judicial referral in New York that could lead to disciplinary review. The hearing is part of a broader confirmation fight that includes calls from former DOJ officials and survivor advocates for Blanche’s rejection.

Scott MacFarlane
@macfarlanenews.bsky.social

Another "unprecedented" moment in the Trump 2.0 era A US Attorney General nominee has taken the oath for confirmation hearings at the Senate, 36 hours after a judge referred that nominee to the New York bar for disciplinary review

278645d ago
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com

Clayton's confirmation hearing was an absolute disaster, so much so that Tom Cotton is crashing out at the end of it

130945d ago
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