Epstein 'mistakes' and Trump ties: Key takeaways from Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing

Epstein 'mistakes' and Trump ties: Key takeaways from Todd Blanche's confirmation hearingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Todd Blanche is currently serving as the acting attorney general after Pam Bondi was firedByKayla EpsteinPublished6 minutes agoActing US Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared for his first day of hearings before the US Senate, as he seeks a permanent appointment to lead America's top law enforcement agency.Blanche on Wednesday faced questions about his personal relationship with President Donald Trump, the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files, and a controversial settlement between Trump and the US's tax agency that a federal judge nullified this week.Trump dismissed his previous attorney general, Pam Bondi, as the government faced criticism for its handling of the Epstein files release. Blanche has led the agency in the interim.Here are five key moments from Blanche's confirmation hearing.Blanche describes his relationship with TrumpGoing into the hearing, Blanche faced questions about whether he would operate independently from Trump, who has vowed "retribution" against his political enemies in his second term. Trump has pressured the Justice Department to pursue controversial prosecutions of several of his critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.Blanche served as Trump's personal attorney in three of the four major criminal cases he faced leading up to the 2024 election. Most notably, Blanche headed Trump's legal defence in his New York criminal trial.Senator John N Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican who broadly supports the administration, on Wednesday asked Blanche if he was "friends" with Trump."I'm his lawyer - was his lawyer," Blanche said in response. "And now I'm the deputy attorney general.""I met him as his criminal defence attorney, I'm not sure there'...