Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General During Agency Turmoil
WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general, placing a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump in a pivotal role within the Justice Department amidst ongoing challenges within the agency.
Blanche, who previously defended Trump against multiple indictments, was confirmed in a closely contested 52-46 vote and will serve under Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is also aligned with Trump.
He assumes his position amid significant upheaval in the department, characterized by firings, resignations, and transfers of career officials motivated by a desire to realign agency staff with the administration’s priorities.
During his confirmation hearings, Blanche committed to a vision of impartiality, affirming that his decisions as deputy attorney general would be free from political influence. He emphasized the importance of restoring public trust in the justice system after what he deemed as politically driven attacks against Trump.
A former federal prosecutor, Blanche played a significant role in Trump’s legal defense, including high-profile criminal cases and the controversial hush money case resulting in a historically high number of felony counts.
Recent cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith have implicated Trump in conspiracy attempts related to the 2020 election and the mishandling of classified documents, with the Justice Department adhering to established policies that limited prosecution during the presidency.
Emil Bove, who had been serving as acting deputy while awaiting Blanche’s confirmation, will transition to the role of principal associate deputy attorney general.
Bove has already made headlines for his controversial decisions, including inquiries into the identities of FBI agents involved in the January 6 investigation and the dismissal of a corruption case against New York’s mayor.
