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Todd Blanche Appointed Acting U.S. Attorney General

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Todd Blanche Appointed Acting U.S. Attorney General

Todd Blanche has been appointed as Acting U.S. Attorney General by President Donald Trump, an elevation from his previous role as Deputy Attorney General. Blanche, 51, previously served as lead criminal defense attorney for Donald Trump in several high-profile cases, in addition to extensive experience as a federal prosecutor and private practice lawyer.

Todd Blanche, 51, has been appointed as Acting U.S. Attorney General, an elevation from his role as Deputy Attorney General, following extensive experience as a federal prosecutor, private practice lawyer, and lead criminal defense attorney for Donald Trump.

Appointment and Justice Department Role

Blanche's appointment follows his tenure as Deputy Attorney General, where he served as the second-in-command under Attorney General Pam Bondi. In this capacity, he managed the Justice Department's day-to-day operations, publicly defended the department, and oversaw the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He also made frequent appearances on television news programs.

Donald Trump referred to Blanche as "a very talented and respected Legal Mind."

Representation of Donald Trump

Prior to his current appointment, Blanche led Donald Trump's criminal defense team. He resigned from his position at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in 2023 to represent Trump, a decision he described as an significant opportunity. His representation included:

  • New York Hush Money Case: Blanche defended Trump in this case, which resulted in a conviction on 34 felony counts. During the sentencing, where Trump received no punishment, Blanche stated to the judge that election results indicated public sentiment that the case should not have been brought.

  • Federal Cases by Special Counsel Jack Smith: Blanche also represented Trump in two federal cases: the 2020 election interference case in Washington and the classified documents case in Florida, which accused Trump of retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. In these cases, Blanche's defense strategy focused on delaying proceedings until after the 2024 presidential election. Following Trump's election victory, Special Counsel Smith moved to abandon both cases, citing a Justice Department policy against indicting or prosecuting sitting presidents.

Trump reportedly expressed approval of Blanche's tenacity and demeanor during these proceedings. Blanche and another defense lawyer, Emil Bove, were subsequently offered roles in the administration's Justice Department, with Bove nominated to a federal judgeship.

Professional Background

Blanche's legal career spans both public service and private practice.

  • Education: He attended Brooklyn Law School at night while working as a paralegal at the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan, graduating cum laude. He completed his undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C.

  • Early Career: Blanche served as a law clerk for federal judges Denny Chin and Joseph Bianco. He then spent eight years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan, including two years as co-chief of the violent crimes unit, overseeing cases involving violent offenses.

  • Private Practice: In 2014, he transitioned to private practice, joining WilmerHale in Manhattan. In September 2017, he became a partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. During this period, he represented Paul Manafort, successfully securing the dismissal of a mortgage fraud case against him in 2019 on double jeopardy grounds.