Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche faces a critical test on Wednesday before members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will consider President Donald Trump's request to confirm his former personal lawyer to head the agency, replacing dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, despite objections from Democrats and reservations even from some Republicans.

A number of prominent Republicans, including Judiciary Committee members Senators John Cornyn and Tom Tillis, expressed reservations about appointing Blanche, linking that to his role in a scrapped plan to create a fund worth nearly $1.8 billion to compensate those who claim they were unfairly targeted by the judicial system, including those convicted of participating in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Sharp criticism

A federal judge on Monday sharply criticized the Justice Department, and Blanche in particular, over a case related to the fund, describing it as an attempt 'to allocate billions of dollars of American taxpayers' money to address grievances not provided for by law.' Others also questioned Blanche's role in releasing files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a process that sparked division among Trump supporters.

Blanche has served as acting head since Trump dismissed Bondi last April. During that period, Blanche defended President Trump's 'right' to direct law enforcement investigations, reactivated investigations targeting Trump's political opponents, and quickly deployed department resources in response to the White House agenda.

In contrast, Democrats have largely united against this choice, describing Blanche as 'obedient' to White House directives and unable to shed his past as Trump's lawyer.

A single Republican vote against Blanche's nomination in the Judiciary Committee would be enough to obstruct his path to confirmation. Complicating matters further, it remains unclear whether the Senate Republican leadership will appoint a replacement before Wednesday for another key committee member, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died over the weekend.

Blanche's confirmation depends on maintaining the support of all Republicans on the committee. This includes Senators Tillis and Cornyn, both in the final months of their terms, with neither having publicly announced their stance on the vote.

Republican optimism

Nevertheless, those close to the Republican Party expect Blanche to be easily confirmed. Mike Davis, former chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, said Blanche is 'on a steady path to confirmation.'

Former Senate aide Mike Fragoso, who worked with former Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Blanche's position as acting head increases the likelihood of his confirmation. He said senators 'realize he holds the position and will continue to perform it.'

This confidence reflects a broader shift in Republican senators' view of a nomination that seemed more fragile a few weeks ago, when the anti-'weaponization of justice' fund sparked one of the party's few public uprisings against the Trump administration.

Insiders say Blanche's pledge to abandon the fund, along with a series of intensive meetings with senators, has calmed much of that turmoil.

In addition to Blanche, the Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on Thursday from several witnesses regarding his suitability for the position. If he passes the committee vote later this month, Senate Republican leaders have expressed hope of bringing Blanche's nomination to a final vote before the Senate's August recess.

With the current Republican majority in the Senate, 53 to 47, Republicans cannot afford to lose more than three members if Democrats unite against Blanche, and Vice President JD Vance would break a tie in his favor.