Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, is set to face a Senate confirmation hearing as he seeks to become the permanent face of President Trump’s campaign of retribution against those who he believes tried to improperly target him. Blanche has been prepping for the hearing, betting on his track record of cracking down on gang activity, fraud, and drug trafficking, as well as enforcing the administration’s hardline immigration approach.

Confirmation Challenges

Blanche’s confirmation is uncertain due to Republican skepticism. Some conservatives have expressed concerns about his personal relationship with President Trump and his role in efforts to contain the political fallout of the Epstein case. Additionally, Blanche has faced criticism for his handling of the Epstein files and his refusal to say that the anti-weaponization fund is no longer being pursued in writing.

Democratic lawmakers are likely to seize on these concerns and hammer Blanche on his oversight of the fund and his continued handling of the Epstein matter. The acting attorney general has also drawn fire for a string of contentious moves, including indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as rollbacks of gun control measures.

Republican Support

Despite the challenges, Blanche has received support from some Republicans. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has expressed a “positive predisposition” towards the nominee, while Senator John Cornyn of Texas has said that he had a “positive” meeting with Blanche. However, Cornyn has also stated that he will not commit to voting for Blanche until after the hearing.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.