Krishnamoorthi Leads Colleagues in Letter to Senate Majority Leader Thune Urging Senate to Reject Todd Blanche Nomination for Attorney General

WASHINGTON - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) led nine Members of Congress in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) Tuesday urging the Senate to reject President Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney General, citing serious concerns regarding Blanche's handling of matters related to Jeffrey Epstein and his network, his independence, and his fitness to lead the Department of Justice. The letter was signed by Representatives Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Dan Goldman (NY-10).

In the letter, the Members write:

"For months, senior Trump Administration officials promised transparency regarding the Epstein files. Instead, under Mr. Blanche's watch, the Department's handling of those records became emblematic of dysfunction and secrecy. Vast numbers of records remained unavailable to the public. Documents were subjected to sweeping and often inexplicable redactions. Survivors and advocates were repeatedly denied answers they had long been promised. Most disturbingly, the Department's release of records reportedly exposed victims' names and identifying information, inflicting fresh harm on survivors who had already endured unimaginable abuse."

The Members also point to Blanche's conduct amid scrutiny surrounding the Department's handling of the Epstein matter, writing:

"The concerns did not end there. Amid mounting scrutiny over the Department's handling of the Epstein matter, Mr. Blanche personally met with Ghislaine Maxwell despite her conviction for sex trafficking and documented history of alleged perjury. Maxwell was later transferred to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas. At a time when reports continue to circulate regarding potential clemency or favorable treatment, these events raise serious and unavoidable questions about the Department's judgment, priorities, and commitment to equal justice under the law."

The Members conclude that Blanche lacks the independence, integrity, and judgment necessary to serve as Attorney General and urge the Senate to reject his nomination, writing that "the Senate has a constitutional responsibility to evaluate whether nominees possess the independence, integrity, and judgment necessary to faithfully execute the law."

The full letter is available here.