President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Todd Blanche as the Attorney General in a permanent capacity, with the announcement anticipated as soon as Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports. Blanche has been serving as the acting Attorney General since the firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April and has previously worked as a personal lawyer for Trump.
The nomination would position one of Trump's close legal allies at the helm of the Department of Justice after several months in an interim role. Top Democratic lawmakers have expressed opposition to Blanche's potential nomination. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) stated, "There is no world in which Todd Blanche could earn my vote," describing him as a crony and loyalist. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) added that Blanche is not qualified for the role.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson commented on Blanche's anticipated nomination, stating that Trump has a strong relationship with him and is satisfied with his performance. Trump indicated that he intends to make Blanche's appointment permanent, noting, "I wanted to see how he’s received" and expressing confidence in Blanche's abilities.
In a recent podcast interview, Trump confirmed his inclination to nominate Blanche and dismissed the idea of considering other candidates for the position. The Department of Justice under Blanche has recently faced scrutiny regarding its management of a proposed settlement fund related to Trump's dispute with the IRS, which included a $1.776 billion fund that received bipartisan criticism. Blanche addressed these concerns before a House Appropriations Committee panel, stating, "We are not moving forward with the fund. Period."