Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey has publicly stated his opposition to Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General, arguing that President Trump's nominee is not suitable to lead the Department of Justice.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and one of Trump's defense attorneys during his hush money trial, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing this week. The hearing drew significant attention given the gravity of the AG position and its role as the nation's top law enforcement official.
What the Left Is Saying
Booker, speaking from the committee room, said Blanche's background as a personal attorney to Trump raises fundamental questions about his ability to serve independently. 'The Attorney General must be willing to stand up to any president, including one who appointed them,' Booker said during the hearing. He pointed to what he described as a pattern of loyalty to Trump over institutional norms.
Senate Democrats have largely aligned with Booker's position. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee's ranking Democrat, echoed concerns about Blanche's independence. 'Americans deserve an Attorney General who will enforce the law impartially, not one who owes their career to a single patron,' Durbin said in his opening statement.
Progressive advocacy groups have mobilized against the nomination. People For the American Way and other liberal organizations argued that Blanche's representation of Trump in criminal proceedings created an irreconcilable conflict of interest. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights urged senators to reject what it called 'a nominee who has demonstrated fealty to one man over the Constitution.'
What the Right Is Saying
Senate Republicans have defended Blanche's qualifications and criticized Democratic opposition as politically motivated. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a senior Judiciary Committee Republican, praised Blanche's experience as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. 'Todd Blanche spent years enforcing federal law. He knows how the Justice Department works,' Graham said.
White House officials have dismissed Democratic objections as predictable partisan resistance. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that opposition from Booker and other Democrats was 'exactly what Americans expect from a party that cannot accept the results of the 2024 election.'
Conservative legal scholars have also weighed in defending Blanche's qualifications. The Federalist Society's leadership noted that Blanche's prosecutorial experience meets the traditional standards for AG nominees, regardless of his prior representation of Trump.
What the Numbers Show
The Senate is divided 52-48 between Republicans and Democrats. With only a simple majority needed to confirm Cabinet nominees via floor vote, Republicans would need only two Democratic crossover votes if Vice President JD Vance were available to break a tie — or three if he is not. As of publication, no Senate Democrats had announced they would support Blanche's confirmation.
Blanche served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York from 2013 to 2021 before entering private practice. His representation of Trump began after Trump left office. The American Bar Association has not yet issued a formal rating on his qualification for the AG position, though such ratings are nonbinding.
The Bottom Line
Booker's public opposition marks one of the most high-profile challenges to a Trump Cabinet nominee in this Congress. While his vote alone cannot block confirmation, his advocacy shapes the public debate and signals how Democrats intend to approach future oversight of the Justice Department.
Confirmation proceedings are expected to continue into next week. Republicans have indicated they will move quickly to confirm key Cabinet positions before the August recess. The outcome will test whether Trump's nominees can secure crossover support or whether the administration must rely on the narrowest party-line margins.