Blanche Faces Tough Crypto and Politics Questions | Honolulu News

Todd Blanche, former Trump aide and now Attorney General nominee, faced tough Senate scrutiny this week — especially from Senator Mazie Hirono, who grilled him on whether the Justice Department weaponized its power against political foes. Blanche defended the President’s authority while insisting enforcement wasn’t targeted at enemies. Hirono then pivoted to crypto, accusing him of weakening enforcement after a memo she claims undermined crackdowns — citing $11 billion lost to fraud last year. Blanche fired back, saying enforcement is actually up and he empowered prosecutors. Most Republicans stood by him, echoing Trump’s Justice Department legacy. But the real test is ahead — Blanche still needs full Senate approval, and more hearings and debate are likely as his nomination moves forward. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6048fc4c76c9e059