Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to appear before the Senate Wednesday for a high-stakes confirmation hearing, but according to Punchbowl News, a number of guests are expected to attend the proceeding who could cast a spotlight on an uncomfortable “pressure point” of Blanche’s.
Blanche was nominated for attorney general by President Donald Trump last month, having served in an acting capacity since April following the firing of Pam Bondi. Blanche is expected to face tough questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, chief among them being his involvement in the Justice Department’s botched release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
In its release of Epstein-related files, the Justice Department (DOJ) was found to have violated key provisions of the Epstein Files Transparency Act by exposing the identity and private information of a number of Epstein survivors. One survivor testified in May that she had been named “over 500 times” in the DOJ’s release.
As reported by Punchbowl News on Wednesday, a number of guests are expected at the hearing that could highlight his and the DOJ’s failings as they relate to release of Epstein-related files.
“Democrats are expected to go after a wide range of pressure points with Blanche, including his role in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Some of Epstein’s victims are expected to attend today’s hearing,” Punchbowl News’ report reads.
Blanche’s controversial interview with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell is also expected to be a topic of discussion during the hearing, an interview that preceded her controversial transfer from a federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas, one where Maxwell has gushed about enjoying special treatment. Blanche has also faced scrutiny for his role in Maxwell’s transfer, which a legal expert has claimed was facilitated by breaking DOJ rules for inmates classified as sexual offenders.
