WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday to examine the Department of Justice’s new victims’ compensation fund. The fund is for people who claim they were targeted by the federal government for political reasons.
Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, appeared to testify. He served as a personal lawyer for Don the Con before being appointed to lead the Justice Department. That fact quickly became a central issue.
Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) asked Blanche if he understood that lying to Congress is a criminal offense. Blanche said he was “very well aware of that.” The senator thanked him and moved on.
But the exchange did not end there. When Van Hollen pressed Blanche on who would oversee the fund, he noted that the attorney general had previously served as the president’s personal attorney. Blanche erupted.
“I’m the acting attorney general, okay?” Blanche shouted. “The fact that I used to be President the former president’s lawyer is just a fact. I’m the acting attorney general. So don’t say the president’s former personal lawyer will do something. The acting attorney general will do something.”
Van Hollen replied calmly: “Mr. Attorney General, you are acting today like the president’s personal attorney. And that’s the whole problem.”
Blanche then disputed the senator’s characterization of the fund. He claimed that a commission of five people would decide who gets money. He said he would appoint the commissioners, with “consultation” from Senate leadership.
Senator Murray (D-WA) asked Blanche to assure Congress that no money would go to the president or his family. Blanche agreed: “Correct. He will not get it. His family will not get it.”
Then Blanche added a curious note. He said the fund had no limitations on who could apply. “Whether you’re Hunter Biden or another individual who believed they were a victim of weaponization, they can all apply,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department later said the fund was designed to help people who had been “mistreated by the deep state.” The spokesperson did not explain how Hunter Biden would qualify or why the attorney general seemed unable to answer basic questions without shouting.
Blanche’s performance drew sharp criticism from committee members. Senator Durbin (D-IL) said the acting attorney general “appeared to be under the impression that he was still defending a client rather than running a federal agency.”
The committee voted to subpoena additional documents related to the fund’s creation. The Justice Department said it would review the request. No timeline was provided.
