Blab Politics
Todd Blanches Nomination as Attorney General Raises Questions About DOJ Reform
Todd Blanche was confirmed by the Senate as deputy attorney general in March 2025 and has served as acting United States attorney general since April 2026, following the dismissal of Pam Bondi. The nomination of Blanche to the top law‑enforcement post has prompted scrutiny of his background and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) record on prosecutorial conduct.
Blanche earned a bachelor’s degree from American University in 1994 and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2003. He worked for eight years in the violent‑crimes division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). In 2017, the article reports that he became a partner at WilmerHale, a firm that has been linked to former special counsel Robert Mueller. (Other biographical sources list Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as the firm where Blanche joined in 2017.) In his private‑practice role, Blanche represented several figures associated with former President Donald Trump, including former campaign manager Paul Manafort and businessman Igor Fruman.
During the Trump administration, Blanche defended the former president in the New York County District Attorney’s hush‑money case and later in federal classified‑documents and election‑obstruction cases. He led Trump’s defense in the criminal trial that followed the 2024 election.
The DOJ’s history of prosecutorial conduct has been a point of contention for Trump supporters who cite the “drain the swamp” pledge. The article notes that the SDNY, where Blanche served as a prosecutor, was involved in the 2014 prosecution of Dinesh D’Souza, a conservative author who was charged with campaign‑finance violations. D’Souza’s case was characterized by the article as an example of the DOJ’s “weaponization” of the system, and the prosecution was later pardoned by Trump.
In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order targeting WilmerHale. The order described the firm as engaging in “partisan representations” that “support efforts to discriminate on the basis of race” and “further the degradation of the quality of American elections.” The order also cited Mueller’s work as an example of the firm’s alleged misconduct. A federal judge later blocked portions of the order.
Blanche’s tenure as deputy and acting attorney general has been marked by a lack of visible reforms to address prosecutorial misconduct. The article reports that no mass firings of prosecutors or investigations into alleged “weaponized” cases have been announced under Blanche’s watch. The DOJ continued the prosecution of Dr. Kirk Moore, a physician who assisted patients in avoiding COVID‑19 mandates, for months into the Trump presidency. The case was dropped by Pam Bondi after she learned of it, but no disciplinary action was taken against the prosecutors involved.
Blanche’s record also includes the handling of the Epstein case. The article notes that he released the final batch of files related to the case, but does not indicate any policy changes or oversight actions taken in response.
The article highlights that during the January 6, 2021, investigations, Blanche was not involved in the defense of the defendants. The article states that he remained focused on high‑profile cases in private practice and did not provide pro‑bono representation to the January 6 defendants.
Blanche’s confirmation as deputy attorney general was followed by a brief, disputed appointment as acting librarian of Congress in May 2025. The Library of Congress staff argued that the appointment violated Senate confirmation requirements.
The nomination of Blanche to attorney general has raised concerns among observers who question whether his background—rooted in a federal prosecutor who handled politically charged cases, a partner at a firm linked to former special counsel, and a defender of Trump—aligns with the promise to overhaul the DOJ’s prosecutorial culture.
At present, the Senate has not yet voted on a nomination for attorney general. The next steps will involve a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, followed by a full Senate vote. The outcome will determine whether Blanche will formally assume the cabinet‑level position and whether any new policies or reforms will be introduced to address the DOJ’s historical issues with prosecutorial conduct.
The article concludes that the Trump base and other stakeholders have an opportunity to influence the confirmation process by demanding transparency about Blanche’s record and potential reforms. Until a nominee is confirmed, the DOJ remains under the leadership of the acting attorney general, and the agency’s approach to prosecutorial oversight continues to be a subject of public scrutiny.
Blanche earned a bachelor’s degree from American University in 1994 and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2003. He worked for eight years in the violent‑crimes division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). In 2017, the article reports that he became a partner at WilmerHale, a firm that has been linked to former special counsel Robert Mueller. (Other biographical sources list Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as the firm where Blanche joined in 2017.) In his private‑practice role, Blanche represented several figures associated with former President Donald Trump, including former campaign manager Paul Manafort and businessman Igor Fruman.
During the Trump administration, Blanche defended the former president in the New York County District Attorney’s hush‑money case and later in federal classified‑documents and election‑obstruction cases. He led Trump’s defense in the criminal trial that followed the 2024 election.
The DOJ’s history of prosecutorial conduct has been a point of contention for Trump supporters who cite the “drain the swamp” pledge. The article notes that the SDNY, where Blanche served as a prosecutor, was involved in the 2014 prosecution of Dinesh D’Souza, a conservative author who was charged with campaign‑finance violations. D’Souza’s case was characterized by the article as an example of the DOJ’s “weaponization” of the system, and the prosecution was later pardoned by Trump.
In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order targeting WilmerHale. The order described the firm as engaging in “partisan representations” that “support efforts to discriminate on the basis of race” and “further the degradation of the quality of American elections.” The order also cited Mueller’s work as an example of the firm’s alleged misconduct. A federal judge later blocked portions of the order.
Blanche’s tenure as deputy and acting attorney general has been marked by a lack of visible reforms to address prosecutorial misconduct. The article reports that no mass firings of prosecutors or investigations into alleged “weaponized” cases have been announced under Blanche’s watch. The DOJ continued the prosecution of Dr. Kirk Moore, a physician who assisted patients in avoiding COVID‑19 mandates, for months into the Trump presidency. The case was dropped by Pam Bondi after she learned of it, but no disciplinary action was taken against the prosecutors involved.
Blanche’s record also includes the handling of the Epstein case. The article notes that he released the final batch of files related to the case, but does not indicate any policy changes or oversight actions taken in response.
The article highlights that during the January 6, 2021, investigations, Blanche was not involved in the defense of the defendants. The article states that he remained focused on high‑profile cases in private practice and did not provide pro‑bono representation to the January 6 defendants.
Blanche’s confirmation as deputy attorney general was followed by a brief, disputed appointment as acting librarian of Congress in May 2025. The Library of Congress staff argued that the appointment violated Senate confirmation requirements.
The nomination of Blanche to attorney general has raised concerns among observers who question whether his background—rooted in a federal prosecutor who handled politically charged cases, a partner at a firm linked to former special counsel, and a defender of Trump—aligns with the promise to overhaul the DOJ’s prosecutorial culture.
At present, the Senate has not yet voted on a nomination for attorney general. The next steps will involve a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, followed by a full Senate vote. The outcome will determine whether Blanche will formally assume the cabinet‑level position and whether any new policies or reforms will be introduced to address the DOJ’s historical issues with prosecutorial conduct.
The article concludes that the Trump base and other stakeholders have an opportunity to influence the confirmation process by demanding transparency about Blanche’s record and potential reforms. Until a nominee is confirmed, the DOJ remains under the leadership of the acting attorney general, and the agency’s approach to prosecutorial oversight continues to be a subject of public scrutiny.
