Todd Blanche, the former personal lawyer of President Donald Trump and the current acting head of the US Justice Department, is set to become one of the most powerful legal figures in the country after Trump announced plans to nominate him as attorney general.
The nomination would formalise Blanche's leadership of the department following the dismissal of former attorney general Pam Bondi in April.
Trump's former lawyer turned top Justice Department official
Per a report by Hindustan Times, Trump revealed his decision during a White House event on Wednesday, saying, “We are going to make him permanent attorney general.”
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Blanche joined the Justice Department as deputy attorney general before being elevated to the department's top position in an acting capacity after Bondi's removal. Prior to entering government, he was best known as a member of Trump's legal team and played a central role in defending the president in several high-profile cases, including the New York hush money trial.
A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche has argued that his experience representing Trump gave him a firsthand understanding of what he describes as the misuse of the criminal justice system against the president, reported HT.
"The sharp drop in violent crime over the past year has been one of the great untold stories of President Trump’s second term. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has played the leading role in it..." @DC_Reporter https://t.co/jDP3wVs05t
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 3, 2026
Why has Blanche attracted attention?
Since taking charge of the Justice Department, Blanche has overseen a number of controversial initiatives and investigations that have drawn intense political scrutiny.
He moved quickly to advance investigations involving Trump's critics and allies, actions that supporters view as efforts to address past injustices and opponents describe as politically motivated.
One of the most debated proposals under his leadership was the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." The administration said the fund would compensate individuals who believed they had been unfairly investigated or prosecuted under previous administrations.
However, the proposal sparked bipartisan criticism and was ultimately abandoned after significant political backlash.
Investigations and criticism
Blanche has repeatedly rejected claims that the Justice Department has been politicised under his leadership. He has maintained that his focus is on correcting what he sees as past abuses.
His tenure has also included the appointment of former prosecutor Joseph diGenova to oversee an investigation into whether law enforcement and intelligence officials worked to undermine Trump over the past decade.
Senate confirmation ahead
If formally nominated, Blanche will face Senate confirmation. His path could prove challenging, as some Republicans have already expressed concerns over several of his recent decisions, including the now-scrapped compensation fund.
The confirmation process is expected to place Blanche's record at the Justice Department under intense scrutiny in the coming weeks.
