Trump Nominates Personal Lawyer Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate his personal criminal defense attorney, Todd Blanche, as the Deputy Attorney General, according to multiple sources. This announcement is anticipated to be made as soon as this week.

Todd Blanche, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor, has a significant background in law enforcement and has represented Trump in several high-profile cases, including the New York hush money case and federal indictments brought by DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith. Blanche also previously represented Trump’s 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort on state charges that were eventually dismissed.

Blanche’s nomination follows Trump’s selection of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as Attorney General, who has since resigned his congressional seat. This move aligns with Trump’s strategy to install loyalists with whom he has personal relationships in key positions within the Justice Department.

Before starting his own legal practice in 2023, Blanche was a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. He spent eight years at the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, including roles as a supervisor in the violent crimes unit and the White Plains division. Despite his extensive legal experience, Blanche has not previously worked at DOJ headquarters in Washington, where he would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of a bureaucracy with 115,000 employees if confirmed.

Blanche’s political affiliation has recently changed; he was registered as a New York Democrat as recently as 2023 but has since registered as a Florida Republican this year.

Trump praised Blanche in a statement, highlighting his experience and commitment to fixing what Trump describes as a “broken System of Justice.” Blanche’s nomination is seen as part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape federal law enforcement operations according to his agenda.