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Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a tense bipartisan grilling on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as he seeks a permanent appointment to lead America's top law enforcement agency, as reported by the BBC. Blanche was questioned about his personal relationship with President Donald Trump, the Epstein files, and a controversial settlement between Trump and the US tax agency that a federal judge nullified this week, according to the BBC and the South China Morning Post.

Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since Trump dismissed Pam Bondi amid a political firestorm over the Epstein files release, apologised for mistakes in the handling of the Epstein files, the BBC reported. He also stated that Trump is not eligible for a third term as president.

Coverage Comparison

The BBC reported that Blanche faced a tense bipartisan grilling on Capitol Hill, focusing on his relationship with Trump and the Epstein files. The outlet noted that Blanche apologised for mistakes in the handling of the files and stated that Trump is not eligible for a third term.

The Guardian, covering the same hearing, framed it as a contentious Senate nomination hearing, highlighting the expectation of tough questioning from Democrats and potentially some Republicans. The Guardian also reported on the broader context of Trump's "retribution" campaign and the recent instruction to federal immigration officials to stop pulling over vehicles following deadly shootings in Texas and Maine.

The South China Morning Post reported that Blanche was pressed about the roll-out of the Epstein files and a settlement that gave Trump sweeping tax immunity. The outlet noted that Blanche deemed the planned fund "dead" but acknowledged the underlying settlement had not been formally rescinded.

Key Claims

  • Blanche faced a tense bipartisan grilling at a US Senate panel as he seeks a permanent appointment to lead the Department of Justice, as reported by the BBC and the South China Morning Post.
  • Blanche was questioned about his personal relationship with President Trump and the Epstein files, according to the BBC and the South China Morning Post.
  • A federal judge quashed a settlement between Trump, his business and family, and the IRS that included immunity from future audits and the creation of a $1.7bn 'anti-weaponisation fund', as reported by the BBC and the South China Morning Post. The latter outlet described the fund as US$1.8 billion.
  • Blanche apologised for mistakes in the handling of the Epstein files, as reported by the BBC.
  • Blanche stated that Trump is not eligible for a third term as president, as reported by the BBC.
  • Federal immigration officials have been instructed to stop pulling over vehicles until further notice, following two recent deadly shootings in Texas and Maine during which officials shot and killed immigrants in vehicles, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Jeffrey Epstein survivors expressed concerns about Blanche's handling of the Epstein case, with some saying that a Blanche-led Department of Justice would likely derail their efforts for accountability, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

Blanche's testimony: Blanche defended his actions, saying that Trump's lawyers would have to go to court to enforce the settlement, something they had no plans to do. He described the tax portion of the deal as standard practice in IRS settlements.

Republican Senator John Cornyn: Cornyn expressed concerns about the fund, saying Blanche's answers did not assuage his worries and did not get him to a yes vote. He said, 'The argument was that the weaponisation fund was dead. What he confirmed is that it's not.'

Epstein survivors: In a letter urging Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to reject Blanche's nomination, survivors said that Blanche's handling of the Epstein case as acting attorney general was characterized by misstep after misstep, including the disclosure of survivors' names and photos but omitting accused abusers, as reported by The Guardian.