Todd Blanche: From Trump's Defence Lawyer to Acting Attorney General
President Donald Trump has elevated Todd Blanche, his former criminal defence lawyer, from deputy attorney general to acting U.S. attorney general. This move places Blanche at the helm of the Justice Department, an institution he previously defended vigorously while serving as its second-in-command under Attorney General Pam Bondi.
A Legal Career Forged in New York
Blanche, 51, built his legal foundation through relentless dedication. He attended Brooklyn Law School at night while working as a paralegal at the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, graduating cum laude. Originally from the Denver suburbs, he completed his undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C.
His career trajectory included clerkships for federal judges Denny Chin and Joseph Bianco, both now on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Blanche then served as a federal prosecutor for eight years in the same Manhattan office where he began as a paralegal. For two years, he co-chaired the violent crimes unit, overseeing prosecutors handling cases involving murders, kidnappings, and other serious offences.
Entering Private Practice and Trump's Inner Circle
After leaving the U.S. attorney's office in 2014, Blanche joined the Manhattan office of WilmerHale. He moved to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in September 2017, becoming a partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice. His connection to Trump began indirectly when he represented Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman. In 2019, Blanche successfully argued for the dismissal of a mortgage fraud case against Manafort in the same New York court that later convicted Trump, claiming it constituted double jeopardy.
In 2023, Blanche left Cadwalader to represent Trump directly, joining the defence team just before Trump's arraignment in the hush money case. In an email to colleagues, he stated, “I have been asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought/consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up.”
Defending Trump in High-Profile Criminal Cases
Blanche led Trump's defence in several landmark cases:
- New York Hush Money Case: Resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts, but Blanche's tenacity and poise under pressure impressed Trump.
- Federal Cases by Special Counsel Jack Smith: Included the 2020 election interference case in Washington and the Florida case accusing Trump of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Blanche's team focused on delaying these cases until after the 2024 election, after which Smith abandoned them, citing the policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Ten days before Trump's return to office, Blanche appeared alongside him via video at Mar-a-Lago as a Manhattan judge sentenced Trump to no punishment in the hush-money case. Blanche argued, “The majority of the American people also agree that this case should not have been brought,” citing election results as a public verdict.
Rise Within the Justice Department
As deputy attorney general, Blanche managed the Justice Department’s daily operations, becoming one of its most vocal defenders. He oversaw the release of government files on Jeffrey Epstein and frequently appeared on TV news programs. Trump rewarded Blanche and another defence lawyer, Emil Bove, with prominent roles in his administration; Bove was nominated last summer for a judgeship on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In a social media post, Trump praised Blanche as “a very talented and respected Legal Mind.” Blanche's elevation to acting attorney general underscores his rapid ascent from private practice to leading the Justice Department, a role he now assumes amid ongoing legal and political scrutiny.
