Trump nominates former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General

President Donald Trump formally nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, to become the United States Attorney General on June 8 2026. Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April after the dismissal of Pam Bondi and previously held the deputy attorney general post.

The nomination has been sent to the Senate, where it is expected to trigger a contentious confirmation battle. Republicans hold a narrow 53‑47 majority, and several senators—including Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy—have expressed skepticism over Blanche’s role in the aborted $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponisation” fund and his handling of the Justice Department’s release of Jeffrey Epstein‑related files. Democrats, led by Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin, have condemned the pick as corrupt, while some Republicans such as Chuck Grassley have praised Blanche’s qualifications.

Critics note Blanche’s involvement in indictments against political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey, and his participation in the controversial interview with Ghislaine Maxwell concerning the Epstein case. The confirmation process is seen as a test of Trump’s influence over Senate Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.