Todd Blanche: Trump loyalist nominated for Attorney General

Todd Blanche's nomination as permanent Attorney General marks a significant career advancement, stemming from his role as a key defender of Donald Trump. Trump announced the nomination at the White House, pending Senate confirmation.

Blanche, previously a less-known lawyer, joined Trump's defense team in March 2023 during the hush-money case. He resigned from a prominent Wall Street law firm, a move described as a gamble on Trump's legal battles. Blanche began his legal career as a paralegal and later became a prosecutor after attending law school at night.

His bet on Trump proved successful, as Trump faced no serious consequences in his criminal cases. Blanche was subsequently appointed deputy attorney general. When Trump replaced Pam Bondi, Blanche assumed the role of acting attorney general.

In his acting capacity, Blanche oversaw several controversial decisions. These included vacating seditious conspiracy convictions against the Proud Boys, firing career prosecutors, and launching investigations into figures like John Brennan and James Comey. The department also pursued a case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, which experts consider unlikely to succeed.

Furthermore, Blanche's department negotiated a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies, though this was later abandoned due to backlash. He also signed an agreement granting Trump and his family immunity from tax audits on past returns. During his leadership, the department experienced high turnover among career lawyers, and federal prosecutors faced judicial reprimands.