Overview
- A wave of organized opposition has surged into the confirmation window, with the New York City Bar Association sending a formal letter on Tuesday that calls Todd Blanche unfit and lists politicized prosecutions, court-order violations, misplaced loyalty to the President, weakened DOJ capacity, and professional ethics concerns.
- More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees and other coalitions, including Lawyers for Good Government and retired judges, have urged senators to reject Blanche over decisions tied to pardons, prosecutions and handling of Epstein-related materials.
- Several former Southern District of New York prosecutors who supported Blanche in January 2025 have grown silent or said they would not repeat their earlier backing because of disputed charging choices and other case-level decisions.
- Senator Dick Durbin publicly signaled he will not support confirmation after meeting Blanche, and the nomination now heads into Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on July 15–16 where a small number of swing senators could determine the outcome.
- News outlets and opinion voices diverge sharply in tone with right-leaning outlets emphasizing Blanche’s experience and stability while bar groups and many ex-DOJ officials stress risks to prosecutorial independence and public trust, a split that frames how the hearings will be judged.