Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced tough questioning Wednesday over his ties to President Donald Trump, the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the Justice Department’s independence as he sought Senate confirmation to serve as the nation’s next attorney general.

According to Reuters’ coverage of the hearing, Democrats argued Blanche’s years as Trump’s personal defense attorney raised questions about whether he could oversee the Justice Department independently, while Blanche insisted he would enforce the law without political favoritism.

Blanche told senators he is “not the president’s yes man” and said he would resign rather than carry out an unlawful order, pushing back against accusations that he would put Trump’s interests ahead of the department’s responsibilities.

Blanche said that if confirmed, his client would no longer be Trump but “the United States,” arguing that his previous role representing Trump as a private attorney should not be confused with his responsibilities as attorney general.

Blanche is seeking to succeed Pam Bondi, who served as Trump’s attorney general before leaving the post and being replaced by Blanche in an acting capacity.

Trump later nominated Blanche to serve as attorney general permanently.

Democrats repeatedly pressed Blanche over whether he could maintain the Justice Department’s independence from the White House, including questions about Trump’s challenges to the 2020 election and other politically sensitive matters.

Blanche said no one, including the president, is above the law and argued that prosecutors must make decisions based on facts and evidence rather than political pressure.

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