What Blanche said about Trump, Epstein files during confirmation hearing for attorney general

Key Points:

• Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Justice Department official Blanche, focusing on his potential promotion and past performance, including scrutiny over a controversial IRS settlement involving former President Trump.
• Blanche denied discussing the IRS settlement with Trump before the Justice Department decided not to pursue the case, but refused to disclose details of any conversations with the former president; the settlement included a now-scrapped $1.8 billion fund for alleged victims of government "weaponization."
• Blanche defended the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, acknowledging redaction errors in released documents but emphasizing efforts to correct mistakes and ongoing willingness to prosecute if new evidence emerges.
• Addressing recent fatal shootings by federal immigration agents, Blanche affirmed adherence to established standards for firearm use and explained that investigations typically fall to the officers' own agencies, despite concerns about impartiality and delays raised by senators.
• The hearing highlighted bipartisan concerns about Blanche's record, with some senators framing it as a performance review rather than a routine confirmation, citing issues such as treatment of Epstein victims, politically motivated prosecutions, and ethical questions involving corporate interactions.