The Department of Justice is undergoing a high-level leadership change, after President Donald Trump announced Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche would replace Attorney General Pam Bondi on an interim basis.
News reports of Bondi’s possible termination circulated in the hours before the announcement made by President Donald Trump on Thursday. He is reportedly considering Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, among others, to be the permanent replacement.
In the meantime, Blanche will be leading the DOJ for up to 160 days, or until Trump chooses a permanent nominee. Here is everything to know about the interim replacement.
History as Trump’s criminal defense attorney
Before joining the ranks of the second Trump administration, Blanche represented Trump as a criminal defense attorney in several cases implicating the president between 2023 and 2024.
The lawyer led the defense team in the New York trial, accusing Trump of giving pornographic actress Stormy Daniels hush money to keep her quiet regarding an alleged sexual encounter in 2006. Trump was convicted on all 34 felony charges for falsifying business records to conceal the payments. Ultimately, no penalty was given. Trump’s legal team is appealing the conviction.
Blanche also served Trump in federal prosecutions involving his handling of classified documents after his first term and his alleged role in overturning the 2020 election results. Both cases were dismissed.
From 2006 to 2014, Blanche served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. Afterward, he transitioned into practicing private law for almost a decade before meeting Trump.
After the Senate confirmed him with a 52-46 vote, Blanche assumed office as deputy attorney general in March 2025. Given his record defending Trump in court, he may face a tougher time getting confirmed as the full-time attorney general if the president favors him over Zeldin or someone else to succeed Bondi.
What has his role been under Bondi?
In his previous position, Blanche implemented Trump’s multifaceted agenda on illegal immigration, law enforcement, and deregulation in the cryptocurrency industry.
Shortly after taking office, Blanche issued a memo that prioritized the hiring of prosecutors in districts along the southern border. He also defended the federal prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, one of Trump’s political opponents.
Blanche also helped Bondi lead the charge on handling the release of the Epstein files, which reportedly played a role in Bondi’s ouster. Her deputy was the one who granted limited immunity to Jeffrey Epstein’s primary accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, while interviewing her over two days in July 2025. The meeting preceded Maxwell’s virtual deposition before Congress in February.
While he hasn’t been in the spotlight as much compared to Bondi, Blanche has spoken about certain issues at public events.
The second-highest-ranking DOJ official appeared at the latest Conservative Political Action Conference, where he openly pondered why possibly deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to polling places this year was receiving so much backlash while other venues require identification.
“Illegals can’t vote,” he told the CPAC audience last week. “It doesn’t make any sense. You all probably had to show your ID five times since you came into this place. It baffles me.”
Republicans praise Blanche while Democrats stay mum
Blanche received ample support from Republicans after he was tapped to temporarily replace Bondi, while Democrats are vocally glad she’s leaving the department.
Trump called the deputy a “very talented and respected Legal Mind,” and former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was once being considered as Trump’s second-term attorney general, similarly complimented the experienced attorney as he moves in to the new role.
“Todd Blanche left his comfortable job at a major firm to defend President Trump against horrendous lawfare,” Gaetz posted on X Wednesday afternoon. “He has shown moral courage, strength and exquisite legal talent. Todd will do a great job for the Trump/Vance Administration and us all.”
Top congressional Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), were ecstatic about the embattled attorney general’s departure. The lawmakers, however, did not express their thoughts on Blanche assuming the role, although they are likely skeptical of him given his close work with Bondi.
Law professor Jonathan Turley is optimistic that the transition between the two leaders will be smooth.
“The move to Blanche will be seamless,” Turley said on social media. “He has not only been serving with Bondi, but he is an experienced and distinguished lawyer. He has been a partner in a world-class law firm as well as a successful prosecutor in the leading U.S. Attorney’s office in the SDNY.”
TRUMP FIRES ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI
Blanche wished his predecessor well as she moves into the private sector at a future date.
“Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship,” he wrote in a post. “Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General. We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”