[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 128 (Wednesday, August 5, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Todd Blanche

  Mr. HICKENLOOPER. Mr. President, the Senate is currently considering 
the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney General of the 
United States. The Attorney General is one of the most important 
positions in the U.S. Government.
  Not only does the Attorney General serve as a trusted member of the 
President's Cabinet, but he also leads the Department of Justice, the 
Agency responsible for enforcing the laws of the land and, hopefully--
traditionally--enforcing them in a nonpartisan way.
  That is a difficult job in any administration, but under this 
President, who values personal loyalty above pretty much all else, it 
may well be impossible.
  During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Blanche was asked about his 
relationship with the President. He responded, ``I'm his lawyer,'' 
before quickly correcting himself to say that he previously ``was'' his 
lawyer. Now, this wasn't a slip; this was a tell.
  Mr. Blanche will not be an impartial check on the President.
  And here is another tell: For months, Mr. Blanche has insisted the 
Department of Justice slush fund is dead. Yet, as recently as this 
weekend, President Trump was saying the exact opposite. He defended the 
fund.
  So when Mr. Blanche says the slush fund is dead, the slush fund isn't 
moving forward, don't believe him, not for 1 second. His word is worth 
about as much as the Trump meme coin.
  During reconciliation, we introduced an amendment to permanently--
permanently--end the DOJ slush fund. Despite bipartisan support, it 
ultimately was voted down. That means taxpayers could still be on the 
hook for paying bounties, rewards to people who attacked our democracy, 
attacked this Capitol.
  At a time when working families are struggling with rising costs, the 
last people the Federal Government should seek to reward, to subsidize 
are those who assault our elections, people like convicted election 
criminal Tina Peters, who tried to undermine Colorado's free and fair 
elections; people like the January 6 rioters--my first full day of work 
in this position--the rioters who stormed this very Chamber in an 
attempt to tear apart our democracy.
  The DOJ slush fund isn't dead; it is dormant. Until Congress 
permanently closes this avenue through legislation, we shouldn't rely 
on assurances alone. If there is even a chance that this fund could be 
revived, this confirmation, this moment, is when this Chamber and its 
Members have the greatest leverage to act. We should not surrender that 
leverage for promises that can be undone at the President's whim.
  A DOJ letter promising to end the slush fund isn't law, it isn't 
binding, and it is certainly not enough.
  Now, to be clear, we don't believe Mr. Blanche will break all of his 
promises. When he says behind closed doors that he wants the Dobbs v. 
Jackson decision to become, in his words, ``permanent in every state,'' 
we should believe him.
  When someone reveals themselves to you, it is generally a good idea 
to believe them.
  Whether it is abortion access or access to the ballot box, we should 
have little confidence that this new Attorney General will not target 
Colorado or other blue States because that is exactly what his boss 
wants.
  We cannot allow a fox to guard the henhouse. We need an Attorney 
General who is loyal to the Constitution, not to President Trump. Mr. 
Blanche does not seem to be that person. Mr. Blanche is not that 
person.
  I strongly, strongly oppose his confirmation and urge all of my 
colleagues to do the same.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.