"War on Judges" and Persecution of Rivals: How Trump's Personal Lawyer Became the US Attorney General
Three years after leaving a New York law firm to defend Donald Trump, Todd Blanche has been confirmed by the Senate as US Attorney General. Having successfully used delay tactics to protect the president from prison, Blanche has now declared war on "rogue judges" and is actively prosecuting political rivals, raising concerns about the independence of the Department of Justice.
When Todd Blanche left his New York law firm to represent Donald Trump in the hush money trial involving Stormy Daniels, many colleagues were stunned by the move from a man who was previously a registered Democrat. Over the past three years, however, Blanche has maintained absolute loyalty to the Republican president, and this past weekend, the Senate confirmed his appointment as US Attorney General by a single vote.
With a 50-49 confirmation vote, many in the US see this as the official transformation of the Department of Justice. Historically, especially since the Watergate scandal, the department maintained independence from the president to avoid political influence. Now, it appears to be directly subordinate to Donald Trump, serving as a tool to "settle scores" with political rivals whom the president claims persecuted him after his first term.
The President's "Fighter" at the DOJ
Even before his full confirmation, while serving as acting Attorney General following the firing of Pam Bondi in April, Blanche moved quickly to file indictments against several of the president's political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey. He also approved a controversial deal granting Donald Trump and his family immunity from tax investigations in exchange for dropping a lawsuit against his own administration regarding the 2020 tax record leak.
The confirmation process was fraught with difficulty due to opposition from several Republican senators concerned that the administration might find loopholes to fund the president's allies, including those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Only after Blanche signed official memoranda committing to abandon a proposed "compensation fund" and limiting the scope of the tax immunity did Senator Bill Cassidy provide the tie-breaking vote, noting that "it could have been worse."
A Turning Point for the Department
All 47 Democratic senators opposed the appointment, joined by Republican rebels Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Senator Dick Durbin called the confirmation a "grave mistake," warning that the nation needs an Attorney General above reproach, especially now, to ensure the elimination of corruption at the highest levels of government.
Blanche's supporters, however, argue that he has brought about a real decrease in crime and is committed to the administration's core goals, such as fighting illegal immigration. Republican Chuck Grassley described him as a "tough and fair prosecutor." Critics contend that since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, the department has already undergone dramatic changes, including the firing of non-political career staff.
Former federal prosecutor Rizwan Qureshi told the Financial Times: "Right now, the Department of Justice is perceived by many as a law firm that represents the president, not the people."
