Todd Blanche, the nominee for Attorney General, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor in New York, was chosen by President Trump to serve as the Acting Attorney General after the departure of Pam Bondi in April.
Prior to his current role, Blanche served as President Trump's personal attorney in New York and later as Deputy Attorney General.
On Tuesday evening, President Trump praised Blanche, highlighting his achievements in reducing crime and increasing arrests, as well as his efforts to combat drug trafficking and protect religious liberty.
The president stated that under Blanche's leadership, murder rates have reached their lowest level since 1900, and violent crime arrests have increased by 100%. He also commended Blanche for his work in seizing large quantities of deadly drugs and protecting free speech.
However, not all committee members shared the president's sentiments. Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse immediately attacked Blanche and other officials appointed by President Trump, attempting to bait him with questions.
Blanche responded by calling out Whitehouse for "cherry picking" comments from judges, arguing that this was not reflective of the Department of Justice's overall performance. He emphasized that the agency has filed over 100,000 indictments and informations to date.
Blanche's response underscored his commitment to executing the Department of Justice's duties effectively and doing the right thing every day, despite criticism from some committee members.
