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Trump picks former personal lawyer for top DOJ role
US President Donald Trump announced late Wednesday he will formally nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to lead the Department of Justice on a permanent basis. The move would solidify Blanche's position as the nation's top law enforcement official if confirmed by the Senate.
Blanche's background and Trump ties
Blanche, 51, has served as Trump's personal attorney and defended the president in multiple high-profile legal battles. These included federal cases accusing Trump of retaining classified documents after his first term and attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. Both cases were dismissed following Trump's 2024 re-election, aligning with DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Before joining Trump's administration, Blanche worked as a federal prosecutor in New York's Southern District. He later briefly practiced at law firms WilmerHale and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Recent controversies at the DOJ
Blanche recently faced criticism over the department's proposed "anti-weaponization fund," which aimed to allocate $1.8 billion to individuals claiming harm from government overreach. The plan drew bipartisan opposition, with some Republicans joining Democrats in rejecting it. A federal judge later suspended the initiative, prompting Blanche to confirm in congressional testimony that the fund had been abandoned.
"We're not moving forward with the fund, period,"
Todd Blanche, testifying before lawmakers on Tuesday
Senate confirmation outlook
Trump expressed confidence the Senate would swiftly approve Blanche's nomination. In a video shared by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, the president stated he would formally announce the pick "tomorrow," calling the confirmation process likely to proceed "very quickly." Earlier this week, Trump praised Blanche on the Pod Force One podcast, describing him as "a very talented guy" and commending his work at the DOJ.
Previous DOJ roles and Epstein connections
Blanche assumed the acting attorney general role in April after Trump replaced Pam Bondi. During his tenure, he was involved in releasing documents related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and interviewed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Blanche also briefly served as acting Librarian of Congress.
Bondi, Blanche's predecessor, denied reports linking her departure to her handling of the Epstein files. She is set to join the White House's new AI advisory council, the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
