President Trump on Monday formally submitted the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as the permanent Attorney General of the United States, sending the name to the Senate for confirmation and setting up what is expected to be a contentious hearing process.
Blanche, 50, has served as acting Attorney General since April, when Trump dismissed former AG Pam Bondi. Before taking the acting role, he served as the department’s No. 2 official. Prior to his time at the Justice Department, Blanche was Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney.
The formal nomination follows Trump’s announcement last week at a White House dinner that he intended to nominate Blanche to fill the role permanently. A White House aide posted video of those remarks on social media.
Blanche’s path to confirmation will not be smooth. Some Republican senators have already raised concerns, and Democrats are expected to press him sharply on a range of topics, including questions about how he handled matters connected to the late Jeffrey Epstein during his time at DOJ.
Senate Republicans hold a majority, but confirmation will require navigating a caucus where at least a handful of members have signaled hesitation about Blanche’s background and his role overseeing the department’s most politically sensitive decisions.
During his two months as acting AG, Blanche led the Justice Department through a period of significant controversy. The department moved aggressively on immigration enforcement, initiated new investigations into prior-administration conduct, and faced sustained criticism from Democrats over what they called politically motivated prosecutions.
Former Attorney General Bondi departed in April under circumstances that the White House described as a mutual decision. No official explanation has been provided.
Trump has now nominated three attorneys general in his second term. Bondi, who preceded Blanche, was confirmed in early 2025 after Matt Gaetz withdrew his name amid a House Ethics Committee investigation.
Blanche made no public comment Monday following the formal submission of his nomination.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is expected to schedule confirmation hearings in the coming weeks. No date has been announced.
