Grassley expects Blanche to win confirmation as attorney general

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said Thursday that he believes Todd Blanche has enough Republican support to be confirmed as attorney general, despite recent criticisms within and beyond the GOP.

The Iowa Republican pointed to the fact that the Senate signed off on Blanche as deputy attorney general a little over a year ago.

“Every Republican on the committee voted for him,” Grassley said, adding that he believed Blanche would maintain that support if indeed President Donald Trump nominates him, as Trump said this week he intends to do soon.

Blanche, a former personal attorney of Trump’s, has been serving as the nation’s top prosector in an acting capacity since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April.

Despite Grassley’s optimism, Blanche will have to overcome strong bipartisan backlash over his handling of the Epstein files release and the nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund he announced last month to compensate alleged victims of excessive legal action by the government – including  Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.

Blanche reversed course on the fund in the face of a court order temporarily blocking it and a furious response from lawmakers even within his own party.

“We’re not moving forward with the fund. Period,” Blanche said Tuesday while testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee to outline the DOJ’s yearly funding request.