Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced intense scrutiny during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, where former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele accused him of misleading lawmakers with ambiguous remarks about waging war against judges.

Steele highlighted a tense exchange between Blanche and Senator Mazie Hirono, who questioned his past comments at a Federalist Society event in November 2025.Blanche initially denied declaring 'war' on judges, but Steele argued that his vague response left no room for interpretation.The confrontation escalated as Steele demanded clarity on Blanche's statements, accusing him of lying to Congress.

This incident comes amid ongoing legal challenges against Blanche, including a federal court ruling that criticized his role in approving former President Donald Trump's $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization' slush fund—a matter that has drawn scrutiny from multiple Republican senators.

The hearing underscores growing tensions over judicial independence and the politicization of legal processes, with critics arguing that Blanche's testimony failed to address key concerns about his past actions.