Todd Blanche faces Senate questions over Trump ties, Epstein files

Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Justice Department, faced tough questioning from Senate Democrats on Wednesday during the first day of his confirmation hearings in Washington. Lawmakers focused on whether Blanche could act independently of the president, given his past role as Trump’s lawyer. Senators also pressed him on the department’s handling of Jeffrey Epsteinrelated files and on a controversial $1.8 billion fund linked to Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Blanche said Trump has never given him an illegal order and that he would not follow one if asked. He also said the socalled weaponization fund is no longer moving forward, while Democrats argued the agreement may still have legal force. The hearing is expected to continue as the Senate weighs whether to advance his nomination.