Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://gographicsoutput.com/video/eeE0ym9XLPK.html Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces Senate grilling at confirmation hearing [p9sX959b5xt] Health Updated on August 05, 2026 EDT — Published on August 05, 2026 EDT (15 Jul 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: POOL Washington, DC - 15 July 2026 1. Wide of hearing room 2. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche being sworn in 3. Wide of hearing room 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General: "I'm pleased to testify again today to tell everybody here that we are doing just that. We are keeping America safe. Since President Trump took office, it's been said a few times this morning already, but it bears repeating - murders are down roughly 20% nationwide. We have the lowest murder rate since 1900. Violent crime arrests are up nearly 114%. We've taken almost 5000 child predators and human traffickers off the streets." 5. Wide shot of hearing room 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General: "Above all, we are restoring American trust. In recent years, we watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public's faith in justice. We are fixing that. Members of this committee on both sides have fair questions about the hard debates of the past year, and I welcome them. I'm proud of what we've done to help American families see safer streets, and to have a fair shot at the life they're working to build. None of this is a Republican or Democrat issue. Every senator here has constituents who just want to be safe. The men and women of this department are the finest people I have ever worked with, and leading them is the honor of my professional life." 7. Wide shot of the senators 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "When you were first nominated to be deputy attorney general, Democrats raised concerns about the president's personal attorney serving as the top attorney in the Justice Department. The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States of America. Since you were confirmed, the Department of Justice has literally violated dozens of court orders to advance the president's agenda. Last year, you declared that the Justice Department was, quote, at war with the federal judiciary." 9. Tight of Blanche 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "Then there's the cover up of the Epstein files, which former Attorney General Bondi herself said you were, quote, in charge of. Under your leadership, more than 1000 FBI personnel were pulled off of other priorities and directed to flag Epstein records for any mentions of President Trump. When scrutiny of the cover up intensified, you participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect President Trump. Not Epstein survivors, the president." 11. Wide of hearing room 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "In less than 18 months of the Department of Justice, you've shown you're still President Trump's personal attorney. Your tenure can be summed up in the four words you said, quote, I love you, sir, to President Trump. This was your response when you asked what you would say to him. This nation deserves an attorney general who loves the Constitution more than any single president. An attorney general focused on keeping America safe and combating corruption, not satisfying the president's personal grievances, or channeling crypto cash to the administration's MAGA faithful. Mr. president, Mr. Chairman, I yield." STORYLINE: In his opening remarks Blanche told lawmakers that he and his team are keeping America safe and “restoring trust” in the Justice Department. Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, has run the department on an interim basis since April. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: wkwFNYPx8Mv 2wHJTzvpMRf YITrkuT1cVG n3K1nwBCnl7 xHnaYwGIUSt xw7SLNgA558 ZO3wZoI38Ry
(15 Jul 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: POOL Washington, DC - 15 July 2026 1. Wide of hearing room 2. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche being sworn in 3. Wide of hearing room 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General: "I'm pleased to testify again today to tell everybody here that we are doing just that. We are keeping America safe. Since President Trump took office, it's been said a few times this morning already, but it bears repeating - murders are down roughly 20% nationwide. We have the lowest murder rate since 1900. Violent crime arrests are up nearly 114%. We've taken almost 5000 child predators and human traffickers off the streets." 5. Wide shot of hearing room 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General: "Above all, we are restoring American trust. In recent years, we watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public's faith in justice. We are fixing that. Members of this committee on both sides have fair questions about the hard debates of the past year, and I welcome them. I'm proud of what we've done to help American families see safer streets, and to have a fair shot at the life they're working to build. None of this is a Republican or Democrat issue. Every senator here has constituents who just want to be safe. The men and women of this department are the finest people I have ever worked with, and leading them is the honor of my professional life." 7. Wide shot of the senators 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "When you were first nominated to be deputy attorney general, Democrats raised concerns about the president's personal attorney serving as the top attorney in the Justice Department. The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States of America. Since you were confirmed, the Department of Justice has literally violated dozens of court orders to advance the president's agenda. Last year, you declared that the Justice Department was, quote, at war with the federal judiciary." 9. Tight of Blanche 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "Then there's the cover up of the Epstein files, which former Attorney General Bondi herself said you were, quote, in charge of. Under your leadership, more than 1000 FBI personnel were pulled off of other priorities and directed to flag Epstein records for any mentions of President Trump. When scrutiny of the cover up intensified, you participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect President Trump. Not Epstein survivors, the president." 11. Wide of hearing room 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Ranking Member: "In less than 18 months of the Department of Justice, you've shown you're still President Trump's personal attorney. Your tenure can be summed up in the four words you said, quote, I love you, sir, to President Trump. This was your response when you asked what you would say to him. This nation deserves an attorney general who loves the Constitution more than any single president. An attorney general focused on keeping America safe and combating corruption, not satisfying the president's personal grievances, or channeling crypto cash to the administration's MAGA faithful. Mr. president, Mr. Chairman, I yield." STORYLINE: In his opening remarks Blanche told lawmakers that he and his team are keeping America safe and “restoring trust” in the Justice Department. Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, has run the department on an interim basis since April. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: wkwFNYPx8Mv 2wHJTzvpMRf YITrkuT1cVG n3K1nwBCnl7 xHnaYwGIUSt xw7SLNgA558 ZO3wZoI38Ry