Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche engaged in a tense exchange during a Senate hearing Tuesday after Van Hollen pressed Blanche over a newly announced $1.7+ billion “anti‑weaponization” fund and the handling of Jeffrey Epstein–related files. Van Hollen repeatedly asked who would control the fund, how it would be used, and what safeguards would prevent politicized or improper spending — at one point characterizing the pot of money as a potential “slush fund.”
Blanche, serving as the Justice Department’s acting attorney general, pushed back as Van Hollen pressed for specifics, and the questioning grew heated. Van Hollen also sought answers about the status and disclosure of files tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and whether the DOJ would commit to transparency on any decisions tied to those records. Blanche defended the department’s actions and authority but faced repeated demands from the senator for clearer explanations and written commitments.
The exchange highlighted congressional concerns about how large, flexible funding and internal files are managed at the Justice Department — especially when those resources intersect with high‑profile investigations. The hearing drew attention from lawmakers on both sides, who asked for more detail about the fund’s structure, oversight mechanisms, and criteria for distribution.
Video of the back‑and‑forth between Van Hollen and Blanche is available from the hearing. Lawmakers signaled they will continue to seek written answers and may press the department for additional oversight or reporting requirements to ensure the fund is used solely for its intended, non‑political purposes.