Trump Names Former Personal Counsel Todd Blanche as Attorney General Nominee

President Donald Trump has officially nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal defense attorney, to serve as the United States Attorney General. Blanche currently serves in an interim capacity, but under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, temporary leadership is generally limited to a 210-day term.

Blanche has held the interim position for approximately 67 days following the April 2 departure of his predecessor, Pam Bondi. By formally naming him a nominee, the President may be able to legally extend his tenure beyond the standard 210-day limit. The nomination is expected to trigger a contentious confirmation battle in the Senate.

This will not be Blanche’s first confrontation with Senate scrutiny. On March 5 of last year, he was confirmed as deputy attorney general in a 52-46 party-line vote, with all Democrats opposing the move. Republicans currently maintain a narrow 53-seat majority in the 100-member chamber.

Despite his previous confirmation, recent events have sparked debate regarding Blanche’s suitability to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ), the federal agency responsible for investigations, prosecutions, and the management of the federal prison system. While a simple majority is required for confirmation, there are indications that Blanche’s interim performance may have caused friction even among some Republicans.

Transition from Private Practice to Public Service

Blanche rose to prominence within Trump’s inner circle in 2023 during a period when the former President faced four separate criminal indictments. One such case involved an alleged hush-money agreement related to adult film star Stormy Daniels, which prosecutors claimed was an illegal attempt to influence the 2016 election. Trump was ultimately convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records—the first time a U.S. president has been convicted of a crime, though he received an “unconditional discharge” without fines or prison time. Trump continues to deny all wrongdoing and is attempting to overturn the verdict.

As a member of Trump’s defense team, Blanche remained close to the former President throughout his 2024 re-election campaign. He is among several former personal lawyers who have joined the second administration, including former appeals court judge Emil Bove and Lindsey Halligan, who served briefly as an interim U.S. attorney.

Since the start of the second term in January 2025, questions have surfaced regarding the independence of the Justice Department. Critics argue the agency has strayed from the norm of remaining insulated from political influence. Blanche has been at the center of these concerns during his time as deputy attorney general.

One notable controversy involved an in-person interview Blanche conducted in July with convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell regarding her former partner, Jeffrey Epstein. The interview was viewed by many as an attempt to address public scrutiny concerning Epstein’s connections to powerful figures. Following her testimony that Trump had committed no wrongdoing, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security facility in Texas, a move that drew significant criticism. The handling of the Epstein investigation is believed to have contributed to Pam Bondi’s departure in April.

Internal Republican Divisions

Blanche has faced bipartisan criticism during his interim tenure. Last month, he was involved in a controversial settlement regarding a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Critics characterized the litigation as a conflict of interest, given the President’s authority over the DOJ lawyers representing the IRS. The resulting settlement granted the Trump family immunity from future IRS audits and established a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to compensate those affected by what Trump describes as government “lawfare.”

During congressional testimony, Blanche declined to rule out using these funds to compensate January 6 participants who were involved in attacks on law enforcement. He later informed a House committee that the fund was not moving forward following bipartisan pushback.

Additionally, under Blanche’s interim leadership, the DOJ filed a second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. The charges stem from a social media post by Comey that prosecutors allege constituted a threat against Trump. Critics have labeled the indictment an assault on First Amendment rights.

Democrats have responded to the nomination by calling for its rejection. “Todd Blanche doesn’t work for the American people. He works for one man,” stated Xavier Becerra. “He weaponized the DOJ to go after Trump’s enemies… The Senate must reject this nomination.”

Conversely, Republican leadership has signaled support. Senator Chuck Grassley praised Blanche, noting his commitment to transparency and law enforcement. However, it remains unclear if all Republicans will support the nominee; Senator Thom Tillis has indicated he would require Blanche to condemn the violence of the January 6 rioters as a condition for his vote.

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