By Steve Neavling
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Todd Blanche, former defense attorney for Donald Trump, as deputy attorney general, putting him in charge of overseeing the FBI, the DEA, and other federal law enforcement agencies.
Blanche’s nomination passed in a 52-46 vote, mostly along party lines, The New York Times reports. A former federal prosecutor in New York, he later moved into private practice, where he led Trump’s legal team in multiple criminal cases, including the New York trial that ended with the former president’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Blanche expressed frustration over what he called unfair treatment of Trump by judges and prosecutors.
“That’s power, and that’s power that’s corrupted,” he told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Blanche is among several attorneys who defended Trump in private practice and are now taking top positions in the Justice Department. Democrats have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, but Blanche dismissed the criticism, saying he would not violate his ethical obligations.
He also downplayed concerns about pressure from Trump, saying, “I don’t think President Trump is going to ask me to do anything illegal or immoral. I say that with experience and firsthand knowledge.”
