Todd Blanche was sworn in Monday as attorney general after a narrow Senate confirmation fight that drew opposition from two Republicans and renewed debate over the direction of the Justice Department under President Donald Trump.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Todd Blanche was sworn in Monday as attorney general, formally taking control of the Justice Department after the Senate confirmed him by a 50-49 vote following a contentious nomination battle.
Federal appeals court Judge Emil Bove, another former attorney for President Donald Trump, administered the oath of office to Blanche at the White House. The ceremony followed an early Saturday confirmation vote decided by the narrowest possible margin.
Blanche later arrived at Justice Department headquarters, where employees gathered along the entrance and greeted him with cheers.
The former federal prosecutor from New York had already been overseeing the department in an acting capacity since the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi in April.
Two Republican senators opposed Blanche’s confirmation, citing concerns about what they characterized as increasing politicization of the Justice Department under the Trump administration.
Blanche has rejected accusations that the department has been weaponized politically. He has said he does not feel pressure to satisfy Trump and has defended the president’s involvement in Justice Department matters.
Blanche has described such involvement as the president’s “right” and “his duty.”
Before becoming attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general and later acting attorney general. During that period, he oversaw investigations involving several of Trump’s political adversaries.
Those investigations included a case involving former FBI Director James Comey, whom the Justice Department indicted in April for a second time since Trump returned to office last year.
Blanche now assumes permanent leadership of a department that has experienced resignations, firings and voluntary departures while also facing increasing resistance from federal courts.
His relationship with Trump predates his service at the Justice Department.
Blanche left his law firm in 2023 to represent Trump in multiple criminal cases, including two prosecutions brought by the Justice Department during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Blanche has said those cases gave him a firsthand view of what he considers the political weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump.
Supporters of Blanche have argued that his close working relationship with Trump could make him more effective than Bondi at resisting or redirecting presidential demands when necessary.
His confirmation was nearly derailed by bipartisan concerns over Trump’s controversial settlement of a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
The nomination moved forward only after Blanche provided written confirmation, under pressure from Republican senators, that the administration was abandoning plans to establish a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate Trump allies who believe they were mistreated by the Justice Department.
With the confirmation fight concluded, Blanche now takes permanent command of the department amid continuing disputes over its independence, personnel changes and the administration’s approach to politically sensitive investigations.
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