Trump's criminal defense lawyer is now the nation's top law enforcement officer

Todd Blanche was Trump's personal lawyer in several criminal cases, including the New York hush-money trial that ended in Trump's conviction. In the second term he became deputy attorney general, then ran the Justice Department as acting attorney general after Trump fired Pam Bondi, herself a former Trump lawyer, in April 2026.

While acting attorney general, Blanche signed the order permanently barring IRS audits of Trump's family and helped set up the $1.8 billion weaponization fund. He also oversaw the handling of the Epstein files and Trump's $230 million claim against the department. The Senate confirmed him on Aug. 8, 2026, by 50 to 49; Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote after Blanche agreed in writing to narrow the audit ban and end the fund's payments.

Critics, including some conservative lawyers, say the department is now run by people with personal loyalty to the president whose legal interests it is supposed to judge, and warn it could be turned against his political opponents.