During a heated House Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced sharp questioning from Rep.Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) over a Justice Department-related settlement involving President Donald Trump and his family.

The dispute centered on an order that critics say effectively prevents future IRS investigations into Trump, his relatives, and associated business entities.DeLauro, visibly frustrated during the session, pressed Blanche on whether the agreement amounted to granting immunity from tax-related scrutiny.Blanche, who previously served as one of Trump’s personal attorneys, rejected the characterization that the order provided blanket immunity.

He argued instead that the arrangement stemmed from a settlement reached between the IRS and Trump-connected parties, and insisted that it did not equate to full legal protection from investigation.

DeLauro countered by reading from the order itself, which included language broadly releasing and barring future claims and actions related to the parties involved.

She argued that the wording effectively blocked any future prosecution or examination of Trump family tax matters, estimating potential financial implications in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The exchange escalated further as DeLauro questioned Blanche’s impartiality, pointing to his prior legal work for Trump and his reported compensation from Trump-affiliated political committees.She suggested that his role as Acting Attorney General posed a conflict of interest given the decisions under scrutiny.Blanche responded that he could not fully answer certain claims as presented and reiterated that no blanket immunity had been granted.

The hearing highlighted growing partisan tensions over Justice Department decisions involving the former president, particularly regarding tax enforcement and potential conflicts of interest within senior legal appointments.