Former Trump Lawyer Confirmed as Deputy Attorney General

Former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche has been confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in a close Senate vote, positioning a key Trump legal ally to oversee critical Justice Department operations despite Democrats’ unanimous opposition.

Key Insights

Todd Blanche was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General by a 52-46 Senate vote, with all Democrats voting against his confirmation.
As Deputy AG, Blanche will oversee 93 U.S. Attorneys and major law enforcement components including the FBI and DEA.
Blanche’s former law partner Emil Bove, who served as Acting Deputy AG, will continue as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.
During his confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to restore “American people’s faith in our justice system” and counter what he termed “partisan lawfare.”

Trump’s Defense Attorney Now Second-in-Command at DOJ

The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, a former criminal defense attorney for President Donald Trump, as the nation’s Deputy Attorney General on Tuesday. The confirmation vote fell along party lines with a final tally of 52-46, as all Senate Democrats opposed his nomination. Blanche now assumes one of the Justice Department’s most powerful positions, where he’ll oversee 93 U.S. Attorneys and critical law enforcement components including the FBI, DEA, and other major divisions responsible for national security, criminal prosecution, and civil rights enforcement.

Blanche’s appointment marks a significant shift in DOJ leadership following Trump’s return to the White House. He was originally nominated by President Trump on November 14, 2024, alongside Dean John Sauer for U.S. solicitor general, and his confirmation represents the continued reshaping of the Justice Department under Trump’s second administration. His new role grants him broad authority over the department’s day-to-day operations and policy implementation across federal law enforcement.

Senate confirms former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general https://t.co/yV8QT9BHoR

— WIS News 10 (@wis10) March 6, 2025

Continuity with Acting Deputy Bove

Prior to Blanche’s confirmation, his former law partner Emil Bove served as Acting Deputy Attorney General. Bove made headlines by firing top FBI officials and prosecutors connected to politically sensitive cases, including those involving Trump. In another notable action, Bove dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a decision that reportedly led to the resignation of eight prosecutors in protest. Following Blanche’s confirmation, Bove will remain at the Justice Department in the position of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.

The Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi has already initiated what she termed a “weaponization working group” to review cases against Trump. This group will examine previous prosecutions of the president that were withdrawn after Trump’s election victory, following longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. The special counsel cases brought by Jack Smith against Trump have already been dismissed in accordance with this policy.

Confirmation Hearing

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche faced intense questioning about potential conflicts of interest based on his previous role as Trump’s defense attorney in multiple high-profile cases. When pressed about whether he would recuse himself from matters he was previously involved in as Trump’s lawyer, Blanche did not provide a definitive answer, but he reportedly assured senators that politics would not influence his decision-making process at the Justice Department.

Blanche emphasized his commitment to countering what he described as “partisan lawfare” and pledged to work toward restoring the American people’s faith in the justice system. These statements aligned with the Trump administration’s broader criticisms of what they’ve characterized as politically motivated prosecutions. As a central figure in Trump’s legal defense team across multiple cases, Blanche brings firsthand experience with the cases he may now be responsible for reviewing in his new role.