US AG nominee faces criticism for dismantling DOJ crypto unit

U.S. Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche faced criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing on July 15 for his past directive to dismantle the Department of Justice's dedicated crypto investigation unit and halt ongoing criminal probes into the sector. According to Cointelegraph, Blanche, while serving as an Assistant Attorney General in April 2025, led the effort to disband the unit. During the hearing, Senator Dick Durbin alleged that this action enabled President Donald Trump to earn $1.4 billion through his connections to the crypto industry, including the family business World Liberty Financial. Durbin stated that cryptocurrency is behind the current administration's "cunning and suspicious deals." Additionally, Senator Thom Tillis expressed concern over the pardon of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. In response, Blanche said he would review the pardon process if his nomination is confirmed.