President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening his intention to formally nominate Todd Blanche for attorney general, selecting his former personal attorney who has been leading the Justice Department in an interim capacity.
Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump revealed plans to submit the nomination Thursday, with video of his remarks shared on social media by a White House staff member.
“We are going to make him permanent attorney general,” Trump declared during the Rose Garden gathering.
Since taking over in an acting capacity, Blanche has worked to establish himself as the top candidate for the permanent position following the dismissal of Pam Bondi in April. He has ramped up investigations targeting Trump adversaries and unveiled a proposed $1.776 billion compensation program for the president’s supporters who allegedly faced political targeting. The controversial fund sparked opposition from both parties, forcing the Justice Department to abandon the proposal earlier this week in a dramatic reversal.
Originally joining the department as deputy attorney general, Blanche was promoted after Bondi’s removal due to her unsuccessful attempts to prosecute Trump’s political enemies. Though Blanche denied seeking the top job, his high-profile decisions since assuming leadership have clearly demonstrated his commitment to Trump’s agenda.
Critics, particularly Democrats, have condemned Blanche’s approach, claiming he continues operating as Trump’s personal attorney rather than serving the public interest in his pursuit of the president’s revenge agenda. The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” also drew criticism from Senate Republicans, whose approval Blanche will require for confirmation.
On Tuesday, Blanche informed Congress the Justice Department was dropping the fund proposal after political opposition threatened to derail funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement operations.
Despite Blanche’s claims of independence from presidential influence, the Justice Department has intensified its focus on Trump’s long-standing opponents during his tenure.
In April, former FBI Director James Comey faced indictment related to a social media image showing seashells on a beach, which authorities characterized as a presidential threat. Comey has denounced the charges as politically driven and expressed expectation of additional prosecutions.
Blanche has also named Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old former Reagan-era Justice Department prosecutor, to lead a Florida investigation examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence personnel conspired to target Trump over the past decade.
A former New York federal prosecutor, Blanche gained national recognition leading Trump’s legal defense, including during the Republican’s hush money case in New York. He has stated this experience provided him direct insight into what he describes as the weaponization of criminal justice against Trump.
