Meet Todd Blanche: Acting Attorney General and Former Trump Defense Attorney
Todd Blanche has been appointed as the acting Attorney General by President Trump following the removal of Pam Bondi. Blanche, a former New York prosecutor and white-collar defense attorney, previously represented Trump in criminal prosecutions before joining the Justice Department. Trump praised Blanche as a talented legal mind.
Blanche gave up his partnership at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft to represent Trump, expressing frustration at being treated differently than lawyers representing other high-profile clients. He defended Trump in various criminal cases, including the hush money payment trial and election subversion prosecutions. Blanche, once a registered Democrat, later became a registered Republican and attended the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Despite facing opposition from Democrats during his confirmation, Blanche was confirmed as the Deputy Attorney General in a party-line vote. He has been involved in significant changes within the Justice Department, including purges of prosecutors and negotiations with Ghislaine Maxwell. Blanche has defended the department's response to the Epstein files release law and initiated criminal probes against Trump's political adversaries.
Blanche's career has come full circle, as he previously served as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. He joined the office in 2006, eventually becoming co-chief of the violent crimes unit before leaving in 2014. Blanche graduated from Brooklyn Law School and clerked for U.S. District Judge Denny Chin.
Expressing gratitude to President Trump for the opportunity, Blanche pledged to support law enforcement, enforce the law, and ensure the safety of America as Acting Attorney General.