Kathmandu— Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general has moved forward after two Republican senators who had previously raised concerns agreed to support him. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on his nomination Tuesday, with a full Senate vote expected later in the week. Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney and acting attorney general since April, has been involved in several controversial episodes at the Justice Department.

Controversial Episodes

Blanche’s tenure as acting attorney general has been marked by a series of contentious actions. He was instrumental in prosecuting Trump opponents and mishandling the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a case that sparked significant public criticism. Legal expert Norm Eisen, co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, warns that Blanche's confirmation would further entrench a culture of corruption within the Justice Department.

"There have been a series of offenses against the rule of law, miscarriages of justice," Eisen told Democracy Now! He argues that Blanche’s nomination poses significant risks to the integrity and independence of the department.

Settlement Details

Blanche provided written assurances to senators raising concerns about his nomination. These include a commitment not to revive a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” designed to pay Trump allies, as well as clarifying that a settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service only granted retroactive immunity from audits rather than permanent protection.

These assurances aim to address concerns about Blanche’s role in controversial decisions during his time at the Justice Department.

(With inputs from Democracy Now)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.