Trump’s Former Lawyer Is Now The US Attorney General: Who Is Todd Blanche?
News world Trump’s Lawyer Is Now The US Attorney General: Who Is Todd Blanche? Trump’s Lawyer Is Now The US Attorney General: Who Is Todd
News world Trump’s Lawyer Is Now The US Attorney General: Who Is Todd Blanche? Trump’s Lawyer Is Now The US Attorney General: Who Is Todd Blanche? Published By, Last Updated: August 08, 2026, 15:47 IST Blanche was already leading the Justice Department as acting attorney general after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. Rapid Read US Attorney General Todd Blanche. (AFP photo) Todd Blanche, the former criminal defence lawyer who represented US President Donald Trump in some of the most consequential cases against him, has now been confirmed as the United States attorney general. The Republican-led Senate confirmed Blanche in a 50-49 vote early Saturday, according to the Associated Press, after a bruising confirmation battle centred on his relationship with Trump and concerns over the independence of the Justice Department. Blanche had already been running the department as acting attorney general since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. His confirmation, however, formally places him at the helm of an agency that Trump has repeatedly pushed to pursue investigations against people he considers political adversaries. Two Republicans — Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — joined Democrats in opposing Blanche. From Federal Prosecutor To Trump’s Defence Lawyer Blanche is not a newcomer to the Justice Department. He began his career there and spent nearly 15 years in different roles, starting as a contractor and paralegal before becoming an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York and later serving in a supervisory position, according to the Justice Department.
He eventually left government service for private practice, where his career took the turn that would propel him into Trump’s inner circle. Blanche became one of Trump’s most prominent criminal defence lawyers, representing him in three criminal cases brought in 2023 and 2024. He rose to national prominence as one of the lead lawyers defending Trump during his New York hush money trial. Blanche also represented him against criminal charges in the two federal cases brought by the Justice Department during the Biden administration. That experience would later become central to Blanche’s argument that the criminal justice system had been weaponised against Trump. After Trump returned to the White House, Blanche moved from defending him against the Justice Department to helping run it. He joined the administration as deputy attorney general, the department’s second-ranking position, overseeing its day-to-day operations and more than 100,000 employees across agencies including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, US Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons. Trump Lawyer Becomes Justice Department Chief According to the AP, Blanche moved quickly to advance several of Trump’s priorities, including investigations involving people the president regards as opponents. His tenure has also included some of the administration’s most politically sensitive matters, including the release of investigative records related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats have accused Blanche of placing loyalty to Trump ahead of the Justice Department’s traditional independence, pointing to investigations involving Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, as well as sweeping changes inside the department. Thousands of Justice Department employees have left through dismissals, resignations or voluntary departures under Bondi and Blanche, according to AP.
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