President Trump Nominates Todd Blanche as Attorney General Amid Controversy
President Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, to officially lead the Department of Justice. Blanche's nomination sets up a contentious Senate confirmation battle, with critics pointing to his involvement in the Epstein files investigation and his handling of January 6-related matters. Supporters highlight his transparency and commitment to law enforcement. The nomination comes after Blanche served as deputy attorney general and faced bipartisan criticism over the Epstein case and a controversial settlement involving the IRS. The Senate will vote on his confirmation amidst divided Republican support.
President Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, to officially lead the Department of Justice. Blanche, who has served in an interim capacity since early April, now faces what is expected to be a heated Senate confirmation hearing, with critics raising concerns over his handling of the Epstein files investigation and matters related to the January 6 Capitol attack.
Blanche has been a central figure in some of the Justice Department's most controversial moments over the past year. In July, he conducted an in-person interview with convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell to ask about the investigation of her former partner, Jeffrey Epstein. The interview was widely seen as an attempt to defuse criticism, and after testifying that Trump committed no wrongdoing, Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security prison, prompting outcry.
Additionally, Blanche was one of the architects behind a controversial settlement ending a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS. The settlement granted Trump and his family immunity from future IRS tax audits and established a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund. While testifying before Congress, Blanche initially refused to rule out using the funds for January 6 participants, but later said the fund was "not moving forward" amid bipartisan backlash.
Blanche first entered Trump's inner circle in 2023, when he served as part of the defense team during Trump's hush-money trial, which led to Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts. He was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 in a party-line vote of 52 to 46. Now, his nomination for the top DOJ post has divided Republicans, with outgoing Senator Thom Tillis calling on Blanche to condemn January 6 rioters who attacked police officers as a condition for his confirmation vote.
Democrats have strongly opposed the nomination. Xavier Becerra, a leading Democratic candidate in the California governor's race, stated that Blanche "weaponized the DOJ to go after Trump's enemies" and "botched the Epstein files." However, Senate Republican leadership, including Senator Chuck Grassley, has rallied around Blanche, praising his transparency and support for law enforcement.
The Senate will vote on the nomination in the coming weeks, and the outcome remains uncertain as Blanche's tenure has tested the loyalty of some Republican senators.
