Attorney General Todd Blanche (Photo by Alex Wong via Getty Images)
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the 88th attorney general of the United States on Aug. 8 in a 50-49 vote. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined Democrats in opposition. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not vote.
Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general had been held up by a pair of Republican senators, John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (N.C.), who wanted assurances that Blanche would shut down the Justice Department’s “anti-weaponization fund” out of concern it would be used to compensate President Trump’s political allies, potentially including Jan. 6 rioters. On Aug. 2, Blanche formally rescinded the DOJ order establishing the fund and clearing the way for his confirmation.
Who is he?
A former federal prosecutor in New York and lead attorney on President Donald Trump’s defense team, Blanche joined the Justice Department in 2025 as deputy attorney general under Pam Bondi. Blanche had been leading the DOJ as acting attorney general since Trump fired Bondi in April.
Blanche served as Trump’s personal lawyer in 2023 and 2024, representing him in three criminal cases, most notably in his Manhattan hush-money trial. Democrats have accused Blanche of putting loyalty to Trump ahead of independent law enforcement while serving in the Justice Department.
As deputy attorney general and acting AG, Blanche faced criticism over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and his role in a controversial settlement between Trump and the IRS. As part of the settlement, the DOJ established the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund to compensate people who claimed they had been unfairly targeted by the federal government. Blanche initially defended the settlement and the fund, but later said the fund would not move forward.
Follow the money
- Blanche’s law firm was paid $9.8 million from Trump’s Save America PAC between April 2023 and February 2025. Trump has used the political action committee to pay the firm for its work in his personal legal battles. Blanche Law was the third-largest recipient of funds from the PAC during the 2024 election cycle.
- According to his most recent financial disclosure report, Blanche reported more than $500,000 in income from his law firm.
- Blanche Law provided legal services to CLS Global FZC LLC, a United Arab Emirates-based cryptocurrency market-making firm. In January 2025, the company pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges for manipulative cryptocurrency trading activity after being targeted by an FBI operation to catch illicit market practices.
- The firm also provided legal services to Roadget Business Pte., the global parent company of Singapore-based Shein, and HongShan Capital Advisors, a global venture capital and private equity firm based in Hong Kong.
- Blanche reported assets worth between $2.1 million and $7.5 million.
- According to FEC records, Blanche has not made any donations of $200 or more to federal candidates.
Why does it matter?
Blanche’s history as Trump’s personal lawyer has raised questions about his willingness to run the Justice Department as a semi-independent law enforcement body free from political influence.
The DOJ has launched investigations into many of Trump’s political enemies, including the ongoing prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, often drawing criticism from legal experts. Blanche will have to make decisions regarding whether to continue with prosecuting these individuals and others.
Blanche could also face pressure from Trump when it comes to companies connected to the president and his political allies. There have already been instances of the DOJ dropping cases against companies such as Boeing and Abbott Laboratories after they made donations to Trump’s second inaugural fund.
In the months leading up to the November midterms, Blanche will be tasked with defending Trump’s executive orders surrounding restrictions to mail-in voting and efforts to obtain the complete voter rolls of nearly all 50 states, part of the president’s efforts to exert more control over federal elections.
During his hearing, Blanche also endorsed the SAVE America Act, a bill backed by Trump and congressional Republicans that aims to mandate strict proof of citizenship and photo identification to vote, as well as heavily scaling back mail-in voting.
This article is part of a series examining the role political money has played in the careers of President Donald Trump’s nominees for executive branch positions.
