Todd Blanche is sworn in as attorney general after bruising confirmation fight
US President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, was sworn in on Monday as attorney general after a bruising confirmation fight that exposed bipartisan concerns about the Justice Department’s direction under the Republican president. Another former Trump lawyer – Emil Bove, now a federal appeal court judge – administered the oath of office to Blanche at the White House following…
Former personal lawyer to US President Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, took the oath of office as attorney general on Monday. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the White House, following a narrow Senate confirmation vote. Emil Bove, another ex-Trump lawyer and now a federal appeal court judge, administered the oath. Upon taking office, Blanche assumed command of the Justice Department, which he had been leading in an acting capacity since Pam Bondi's dismissal in April.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor from New York, faces the daunting task of managing a Justice Department he has overseen in recent months, with resignations, firings and voluntary departures leaving the agency weakened. The confirmation battle also exposed bipartisan concerns about the direction of the Justice Department under Trump's presidency.
Blanche has been tasked with addressing a Justice Department, which has come under increasing scrutiny from the courts. As deputy attorney general and acting attorney general, Blanche has been responsible for investigating Trump's political foes, including former FBI Director James Comey, whom the DOJ indicted twice during Trump's tenure.
Defending the administration against accusations of weaponizing the Justice Department, Blanche states that he feels no pressure to appease Trump. He maintains that the president's interest in Justice Department matters is both his "right" and "duty". Blanche's tenure took a turn when he joined Trump's legal team in 2023 to defend him against multiple criminal cases, including two brought by the DOJ under Biden. This close association may prove advantageous in navigating the president's demands.
However, Blanche's nomination faced opposition due to concerns about the controversial settlement of his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. It was only confirmed after Blanche agreed in writing to reverse plans for a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who felt wronged by the department.
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