President Trump announced Wednesday evening that he will nominate Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, elevating his acting top prosecutor to the permanent role. Trump made the announcement at a private White House event, with the video posted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino showing the president in the Rose Garden confirming the decision would be formalized Thursday.
Blanche, 41, has served as acting attorney general since early April, when Trump removed Pam Bondi from the position. Before that, Blanche was Bondi's deputy and had previously worked as Trump's personal attorney, representing him in his New York criminal trial that ended in a 34-count felony conviction.
Since stepping into the acting role, Blanche has moved aggressively to align the Justice Department with Trump's priorities. The department secured an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey over a photograph he posted containing the numbers "86 47" spelled out in seashells. Comey has disputed suggestions the image constituted a threat. A federal judge had previously dismissed a separate case against Comey on the grounds the prosecutor was improperly appointed. The Comey indictment marks the second attempt by the Trump administration to prosecute the former FBI director.
Blanche has also overseen efforts to pursue figures Trump views as opponents. NBC News reported that Bondi's ouster stemmed partly from her inability to successfully target Trump's perceived political enemies, a priority for the president.
One proposal that drew intense backlash came from Blanche's Justice Department: an $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund designed to compensate individuals who claimed the federal government had targeted them politically. The plan sparked criticism from both parties and was ultimately shelved. Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday the fund would not proceed.
A career federal prosecutor before joining Trump's orbit, Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general last year by the Senate on a 52-46 vote. That narrow margin suggests his nomination for the permanent post could face significant Democratic opposition, though Republicans control the chamber.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Blanche's elevation signals Trump intends to keep the Justice Department firmly focused on his political agenda, regardless of bipartisan concerns about institutional independence."
Comments