Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee for deputy attorney general, expressed his opposition to the release of part of former special counsel Jack Smith's report during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
When questioned by Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff about the recommendation to make Volume II of the report public, Blanche firmly stated his disapproval. He also avoided committing to preserving evidence in the cases brought against Trump by Smith, which were later dropped.
Blanche emphasized his commitment to following the law but refrained from explicitly agreeing to safeguard the evidence in question. Despite Schiff's insistence on a clear answer, Blanche maintained his stance on adhering to legal guidelines.
Having represented Trump in the cases initiated by Smith and the New York hush money criminal case, Blanche acknowledged his attorney-client relationship with the former president. However, he clarified that there are no ongoing matters involving Trump that he is currently handling.
Regarding potential conflicts of interest in overseeing the review of these cases within the Justice Department, Blanche downplayed the likelihood of any significant conflicts arising from his involvement.
Blanche's testimony underscores his position on the non-disclosure of certain portions of the special counsel's report and his approach to legal matters related to Trump's past legal challenges.
