Todd Blanche admits ‘mistakes were made’ over Epstein files release during Senate hearing

US President Donald Trump’s acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has acknowledged that “mistakes were made” in the Justice Department’s handling of the release of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Blanche made the comments during his Senate confirmation hearing as he seeks approval to become the permanent head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the highest law enforcement position in the United States.

Questions over Epstein files release

During the hearing, senators questioned Blanche about the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files, which sparked public criticism and controversy after their release.

Blanche admitted that errors occurred during the process but did not provide further details about what went wrong.

The issue has placed additional scrutiny on the Justice Department as lawmakers examine how sensitive information was managed.

Defends Trump’s January 6 pardons

Blanche was also questioned about President Trump’s decision to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.

He defended the president’s authority to issue the pardons, saying he did not question Trump’s legal power or decision to grant them.

The comments come as the administration continues to face political debate over its handling of cases connected to the Capitol attack.

From Trump’s legal team to DOJ leadership

Blanche became acting attorney general after Pam Bondi left the role in April, following controversy surrounding the Epstein files release.

Before joining the Justice Department, Blanche was known as a close ally of Trump and represented the president in several personal legal matters.

His confirmation hearing is expected to determine whether he will permanently lead the department during a period of intense political and legal attention.