On Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before the House Appropriations Committee in Washington. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday his intention to nominate Todd Blanche as the permanent attorney general. Blanche has been serving in an acting capacity and has been a former personal lawyer to Trump, pushing the former president’s agenda actively at the Justice Department.
Trump revealed his plans at a White House dinner, indicating a formal nomination of Blanche would occur on Thursday. During the event in the Rose Garden, he expressed his decision to make Blanche the permanent attorney general.
Blanche has actively pursued his position as a likely candidate for the permanent role since the dismissal of Pam Bondi in April. His efforts have included initiating investigations into those opposing Trump and proposing a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate Trump’s allies who claim political persecution. The proposal, however, led to significant bipartisan backlash, causing the Justice Department to abandon the idea.
Initially, Blanche joined the Justice Department as deputy attorney general. Following Bondi’s removal, he took over her responsibilities. Despite insisting that he was not seeking the permanent position, Blanche’s actions suggested a keen interest in demonstrating his loyalty to Trump.
Blanche’s moves have drawn criticism from Democrats and other detractors who accuse him of acting as Trump’s personal lawyer intent on pursuing a vendetta. The controversial $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” faced disapproval even from Republican senators, whose support Blanche needs for confirmation as attorney general.
Despite the pressures, Blanche has denied feeling any, maintaining that his focus is on addressing what he perceives as injustices from the previous administration. Under his leadership, the Justice Department has actively pursued Trump’s longtime adversaries.
He denied accusations of politicizing the Justice Department, arguing that he aimed to correct perceived previous misuses by the Biden administration. This was highlighted when former FBI Director James Comey was indicted over a social media post deemed threatening to Trump. Comey criticized these actions as politically driven, predicting further indictments against him.
Furthermore, Blanche appointed Joseph diGenova, a former prosecutor from the Reagan era, to investigate alleged conspiracies by former law enforcement and intelligence officials against Trump. Blanche faced scrutiny over the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” meant to compensate individuals unjustly prosecuted by past administrations, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Blanche hesitated to exclude violent offenders from potential payments but later assured lawmakers that the Justice Department would not proceed with the plan due to political opposition stalling related legislative funding.
Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor from New York, gained notoriety during Trump’s defense in the hush money trial. This role provided him with firsthand experience of what he described as a biased criminal justice system against Trump.