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Cory Booker Loses All Composure in Committee Hearing
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Cory Booker Loses All Composure in Committee Hearing

Sen. Cory Booker delivered an impassioned speech Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee debated the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, but his objections ultimately failed to prevent the committee from advancing Blanche's nomination to the full Senate.

The committee voted 12-10 along party lines to move Blanche's nomination forward after two Republican senators who had previously expressed concerns decided to support him.

Booker's sharpest criticism centered on President Donald Trump's proposed $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, which had been intended to compensate individuals whom the administration believes were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department under former President Joe Biden.

Before the vote, Booker criticized Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina for changing their positions after Blanche issued a signed statement confirming the fund would not move forward.

"This is ridiculous! We got nothing! No guarantees whatsoever that this slush fund still can't go forward," Booker said.

Blanche addressed the issue in a statement posted on social media Sunday, writing that the May order establishing the fund "was rescinded and shall have no force or effect."


He added that no claims process had ever been created, no payments had been made, and that "This Order establishes, beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund."

Blanche also cited Justice Department court filings stating that no such compensation program exists.

Cornyn and Tillis, who had sought clarification on the issue, ultimately said they were satisfied with Blanche's assurances and voted to advance his nomination.

Booker then broadened his criticism to President Trump himself.

"It's not like we're talking about a president who is a saint. No president of the United States has been caught in tax cheating more than this one," Booker said, citing reporting by The New York Times regarding Trump's finances.

Booker also attempted to link Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, accusing Blanche of protecting the president from scrutiny. The Justice Department has released thousands of pages of records related to Epstein's investigation, but no charges have been brought against Trump in connection with those crimes.

Turning his focus back to Blanche, Booker argued that the nominee would place Trump's interests above those of the country.

"This man is not our lawyer. He's not America's lawyer," Booker said. "He is about to become Trump's sword against his adversaries and shield against any scrutiny."


Republicans rejected that characterization, arguing Blanche is qualified to serve as attorney general and emphasizing that his written assurances regarding the proposed compensation fund addressed their concerns.

Booker concluded his remarks with a broader warning about the state of American institutions.

"When it comes to our democracy, you're worried about someone who is doing petty theft while there is the murder of our democratic traditions going on before our eyes," he told Republican members of the committee. "We are in dangerous waters, folks."

He finished by accusing Blanche of serving the president rather than the Constitution.

"He is about Trump and not truth," Booker said. "He is about corruption and not the Constitution. He is about being Donald Trump's lawyer and not the people's lawyer."

Despite Booker's objections, the Judiciary Committee approved Blanche's nomination, sending it to the full Senate, where lawmakers will now consider whether to confirm him as attorney general.

Written by Arthur Higgens - August 5, 2026