Blanche meets Grassley to discuss Senate AG confirmation

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on Monday, launching a series of key meetings as he seeks Senate confirmation to permanently lead the Justice Department. Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April, faces a politically difficult path in a narrowly divided Senate.

President Donald Trump formally nominated Blanche last week, approximately two months after he assumed the acting role. That transition followed Trump's firing of former Attorney General Pamela Bondi in early April over her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and what Trump reportedly perceived as insufficient aggression in implementing his agenda.

During the meeting with Grassley, the Iowa Republican said he appreciated the opportunity to discuss the nomination. He cited Blanche's record supporting Trump's mission of law and order as Deputy Attorney General and said Blanche is prepared to continue working to keep American families safe. Grassley also stated his expectation that Blanche would respond to outstanding oversight requests for records from the Justice Department. He concluded by saying he looked forward to advancing...