Todd Blanche
Justice Department creates a new pathway to restore gun rights for some convicted of felonies
WASHINGTON | The Justice Department finalized a rule Monday that will pave the way for people who’ve been barred from owning firearms because of criminal convictions to apply to have their gun rights reinstated. The process launched by newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche is a victory for Second Amendment advocates who have long pushed […]
Todd Blanche is narrowly confirmed 50-49 as Trump’s attorney general in an overnight vote
WASHINGTON | The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote early Saturday, cementing the command of President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer at a Department of Justice that Trump has sought to bend to his will. The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 to make Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned […]
GOP Sen. Murkowski will oppose Blanche’s attorney general nomination, narrowing confirmation path
WASHINGTON | Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, narrowing the confirmation path for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department. The Alaska senator, who joins GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in opposing Blanche, cited the Justice Department’s handling of files related to disgraced […]
GOP holdouts say they will back Blanche’s attorney general nomination after striking deal over fund
WASHINGTON | Two Republican senators who threatened to block acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation to lead the Justice Department said Monday that they will support his nomination, ending an impasse over plans to create a fund to compensate allies of President Donald Trump. The endorsement from GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis paves […]
Blanche rescinds fund for Trump allies after GOP senators threaten to block his attorney general bid
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday terminating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies, a move that follows weeks of negotiations with two Republican senators who were blocking his nomination to become attorney general. A spokeswoman for Texas Sen. John Cornyn, one of […]
Senate panel delays vote on Blanche attorney general nomination as key Republicans withhold support
WASHINGTON | Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general stalled Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination to the […]
Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand by a Republican senator whose support is crucial to advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department. Blanche spent about an hour at Justice Department headquarters in Washington with the group of Epstein accusers, who […]
Republican senator says Blanche must meet Epstein’s accusers to earn his vote for attorney general
WASHINGTON | A Republican senator whose vote Todd Blanche needs to advance his nomination as attorney general suggested Thursday that his support hinges on Blanche first meeting with Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers. Sen. Thom Tillis’ comments came a day after Blanche was pressed during his confirmation hearing over the Justice Department’s handling of millions of files […]
Blanche confronts skeptical questioning of fund, tax deal for Trump at Senate confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON | Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted skeptical questioning at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about the creation of a fund to compensate President Donald Trump’s allies and a tax immunity deal for the president as he aimed to lock down the Republican support needed to advance his nomination. Blanche insisted that the $1.776 […]
Judge issues scathing rebuke of Trump for manipulating court system in tax returns lawsuit
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over his leaked tax returns was filed for an “improper purpose,” a judge said Monday as she referred one of his lawyers for potential disciplinary action and characterized the $10 billion complaint as an exercise in self-dealing. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams accused Trump […]