Trump names his ex-lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general pick, as Dems raise loyalty concerns

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night, June 3, that he will nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as the permanent attorney general, elevating his former personal lawyer to lead the Justice Department permanently pending Senate confirmation.

Trump announced a Rose Garden event at the White House, telling attendees that Blanche would become the administration’s permanent choice for the position. The move comes months after Trump elevated Blanche to acting attorney general following the removal of Pam Bondi from the post in April.

Trump moves to formalize Todd Blanche’s leadership at Justice Department

At the White House event, Trump praised Blanche and said he planned to formally submit his nomination on Thursday, June 4. “We are going to make him permanent attorney general,” Trump said in a video shared by his assistant Dan Scavino on X. 

Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general before assuming the acting role earlier this year. Before joining the administration, he was one of Trump’s personal attorneys and represented him during the 2024 New York criminal case involving allegations of falsified business records related to hush-money payments.

Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in that case before winning reelection later that year. On Tuesday, June 2, Trump had already signaled confidence in Blanche’s future when asked whether he would remain attorney general, responding, “I think he will.”

A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche has argued that the Justice Department under previous administrations improperly targeted Trump and his allies. Since becoming acting attorney general, he has overseen several investigations involving Trump critics and political opponents while defending the administration’s handling of the department.

The nomination will require Senate confirmation. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber, though several GOP senators have previously broken with Trump on key issues.

Democrats challenge Todd Blanche’s qualifications

Democratic lawmakers quickly criticized the announcement, arguing that Blanche has acted more as an advocate for Trump than as an independent law enforcement official.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Blanche is unfit for the role. “Todd Blanche is not qualified to be the Deputy Attorney General, the Acting Attorney General, and he certainly is not qualified to be the United States Attorney General,” Jeffries said.

“The role of that particular position is to serve as the people’s lawyer. Todd Blanche has been acting like Donald Trump’s lawyer, which was his former position.” Jeffries also referenced the abandoned compensation fund, adding that Blanche had helped advance “the corrupt $1.8 billion slush fund.”

Senator Jon Ossoff voiced even stronger opposition. “There is no world in which Todd Blanche could earn my vote,” Ossoff said. “As far as I'm concerned, he should resign. Todd Blanche is a crony. Todd Blanche is a loyalist. He has no business as the nation's top law enforcement official.”

The Senate confirmation process is expected to begin after Trump formally submits the nomination. If confirmed, Blanche would become the permanent head of the Justice Department.