Todd Blanche leads DOJ transformation amid Deputy AG search

Attorney General Todd Blanche has begun his tenure at the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a focus on reshaping the institution. Critics, including former federal prosecutor Harry Litman, have expressed concern that Blanche is undermining long-standing DOJ standards and independence, noting that Blanche has publicly stated he would not pledge to operate independently from the president.

As Blanche’s administration develops, the next leadership battle for the Deputy Attorney General position is emerging. Trent McCotter, currently the Acting Deputy Attorney General, is reportedly a frontrunner for the permanent role. McCotter’s candidacy faces scrutiny due to his role in architecting the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, which a federal judge previously described as ‘akin to a fraud on the court.’

Additionally, McCotter has faced criticism regarding his intervention to dismiss federal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. A federal judge criticized McCotter’s justification for the dismissal, labeling it a ‘baseless assertion’ that was ‘unbecoming of his office.’ Other potential contenders for the Deputy Attorney General role include Colin McDonald and Harmeet Dhillon.