President Donald Trump has formally nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, seeking Senate confirmation for the longtime ally and former personal defense lawyer who has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April.
The White House submitted Blanche’s nomination to the Senate on Monday, following comments by Trump indicating that he planned to make the appointment permanent. Trump recently praised Blanche as “a very talented guy” while discussing the prospective nomination.
Blanche assumed leadership of the Justice Department after Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, The Dallas Express reported. Before becoming acting attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general and oversaw the department’s criminal and national security operations.
The nomination sets up what could be a challenging confirmation process. Some Republican senators have expressed reservations about Blanche, particularly in light of several controversial actions taken by the Justice Department during his tenure.
Among those actions was the department’s proposal to establish a $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund intended to compensate individuals who claimed to have been subjected to prosecutorial overreach during the Biden administration. Critics argued the fund could have benefited people convicted of crimes related to the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol.
Blanche announced earlier this month that the department had abandoned plans for the fund following criticism from lawmakers and a court order temporarily blocking its implementation. However, concerns remain among some lawmakers after Blanche declined to provide written assurances that the proposal would not be revived.
The acting attorney general has also faced scrutiny over a Justice Department agreement granting Trump, members of his family and the Trump Organization immunity from certain IRS-related prosecution or enforcement actions tied to tax returns filed before a settlement involving Trump’s lawsuit against the tax agency.
During a recent House hearing, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) questioned whether Blanche’s previous work as Trump’s personal attorney created a conflict of interest in his current position. Blanche rejected the suggestion, asking what conflict lawmakers believed existed.
Bondi also told a House committee that Blanche had been placed in charge of overseeing the department’s compliance with a law requiring the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The department has faced criticism over its handling of those records.
Blanche represented Trump in several criminal cases before returning to government service. Those included two federal prosecutions related to Trump’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents after leaving office. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 election because of longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
He also served as Trump’s attorney in the New York criminal case that resulted in the president’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to a hush-money payment made before the 2016 election.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, Republican Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed support for Blanche’s nomination in a social media post.
“… I’ve worked well with Acting Attorney General Blanche for more than a year and appreciate his commitment to transparency and support for law enforcement. Blanch is well-qualified and has shown his dedication to restoring law and order across our country,” Grassley said. “The Senate Judiciary Committee’s work to process Blanche’s nomination is underway.”
If confirmed, Blanche would become the nation’s permanent chief law enforcement officer after more than two months serving in the role on an interim basis.
