President Trump formally nominated his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, formalizing his acting role since April.
7:42 PM
President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, seeking to formalize the former Trump defense lawyer's control over the Justice Department.
Blanche has served in an acting capacity since April, when Trump fired then-Attorney General Pam Bondi from the post. The White House formally sent Blanche's nomination to the Senate on Monday. Trump had indicated his intention to nominate Blanche during a White House Rose Garden dinner the previous week, according to a video posted by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino to X.
Prior to his appointment as acting attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general for just over a year, a position responsible for overseeing all of the Justice Department's criminal and national security work. He joined Trump's legal team in March 2023, shortly after Trump was indicted for the first time in New York.
The nomination comes amid controversy surrounding the Justice Department's handling of several matters. Weeks before the nomination, the Justice Department granted Trump, his family and the Trump Organization immunity from prosecution or enforcement actions by the Internal Revenue Service in connection with tax returns filed before a settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. Blanche had responsibility for determining how the Justice Department complied with a law requiring the release of files about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to former Attorney General Bondi, who told a House committee about this matter.
Bondi was ousted after coming under fire for her handling of the Epstein files, an issue that has been associated with the president for many years.
Blanche's confirmation will require approval from the Senate, where Republicans currently hold the majority. Some GOP senators have expressed wariness about the nomination. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of several outgoing lawmakers, told reporters he had concerns about the nomination, though his full statement was not detailed in available reports.
Trump described Blanche as "a very talented guy" during a podcast appearance earlier in the week. Blanche's appointment as a permanent attorney general will mark a significant step in formalizing his role as the country's top law enforcement officer.
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