Former Trump Lawyer Officially Confirmed as Deputy Attorney General

Former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche has been confirmed as the new Deputy Attorney General in a strictly partisan Senate vote, positioning the Trump ally to oversee crucial Justice Department operations as his former client returns to the White House.

Key Takeaways

Todd Blanche, who previously defended Donald Trump in multiple cases, was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General by a 52-46 Senate vote with all Democrats opposing.
Blanche will oversee 93 U.S. Attorneys and key law enforcement components including the FBI and DEA, wielding significant influence over federal prosecutions.
His confirmation follows Emil Bove, another former Trump lawyer who served as Acting Deputy AG and will continue as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.
Blanche joins Attorney General Pam Bondi’s “weaponization working group” aimed at reviewing cases against Trump, which raised questions about potential conflicts of interest during the hearing.
During his confirmation hearing, Blanche avoided directly addressing whether he would recuse himself from cases involving his former client but asserted he would not allow politics to affect his decision-making.

Senate Confirms Blanche Along Party Lines

The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General on March 5, 2024, with a 52-46 vote that highlighted the partisan divide over the appointment. Only Republicans supported Blanche’s confirmation, while all Democrats opposed it. Blanche, who previously served as one of Donald Trump’s criminal defense attorneys, will now hold the second-highest position in the Department of Justice, overseeing critical operations including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Trump announced Blanche’s nomination on November 14, 2024, shortly after his election victory. The confirmation grants significant authority to a lawyer who was deeply involved in defending Trump against the very prosecutions that the Justice Department had previously pursued. As Deputy Attorney General, Blanche will supervise the 93 U.S. Attorneys across the country and major law enforcement components that were once investigating his former client.

Senate confirms former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general https://t.co/DaxBiYyOnt

— KCRG-TV9 (@KCRG) March 6, 2025

From Trump Defense to DOJ Leadership

Blanche’s appointment continues a pattern established by his predecessor and former law partner, Emil Bove, who served as Acting Deputy Attorney General. Bove, also part of Trump’s defense team, will remain in the Justice Department as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. During his tenure as acting deputy, Bove has already made significant moves, including dismissing corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and firing key FBI officials and prosecutors involved in politically sensitive cases.

Blanche stated during his confirmation hearing that he wants to restore the “American people’s faith in our justice system,” addressing concerns about the perception of “partisan lawfare” in federal prosecutions.

Blanche played a central role in Trump’s defense team in several high-profile cases, including the New York hush money case. These cases were effectively terminated after Trump’s election victory in November due to Department of Justice policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Special counsel Jack Smith officially withdrew federal cases against Trump after his election win, closing chapters that Blanche had fought as defense counsel.

Recusal Questions and Department Reviews

Attorney General Pam Bondi has initiated what she terms a “weaponization working group” specifically tasked with evaluating cases against Trump. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche faced pointed questions about potential conflicts of interest but stopped short of committing to recuse himself from matters involving Trump.

Blanche assured senators during his confirmation process that political considerations would not influence his decision-making at the Justice Department. The Justice Department under Blanche’s leadership will likely continue the significant shift in priorities already begun under acting officials.