A bipartisan group of US Senators intensely questioned Deputy Attorney General Blanche during a contentious oversight hearing, demanding clarity on alleged conflicts of interest related to cryptocurrency holdings and previous professional associations within the digital asset sector. The inquiry, held before the Senate Judiciary Committee, focused specifically on Blanche’s reported ownership of various digital tokens acquired prior to his appointment, raising concerns that his personal financial interests could overlap with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) increasingly aggressive prosecution and regulatory policy regarding crypto firms.
Senators pressed Blanche to provide detailed records confirming his adherence to federal ethics standards, specifically focusing on whether he had recused himself from investigations involving companies whose outcomes could directly influence the value of his personal crypto portfolio. Concerns were amplified given the DOJ’s handling of several high-profile crypto fraud and money laundering cases.
Deputy AG Blanche firmly defended his conduct, asserting that he has strictly followed all ethics guidelines and protocols, including mandatory disclosures and proactive recusal procedures mandated by the DOJ’s ethics office. He stated that all decisions concerning digital asset enforcement are based solely on legal merit and the public interest, rather than personal financial bias.
Despite these assurances, several leading Senators deemed the testimony inadequate and formally requested the DOJ Inspector General to initiate a review of all relevant ethics waivers and internal communication regarding crypto-related investigations supervised by the Deputy AG’s office. The heightened congressional scrutiny underscores the growing political sensitivity surrounding the intersection of financial technology regulation and the ethical integrity of top government officials.
Source: US Senators press Deputy AG Blanche on alleged crypto conflicts of interest
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