Todd Blanche is one of Washington's most consequential — and contested — figures right now. The former defense attorney who kept Donald Trump out of prison is now the acting attorney general of the United States, wielding extraordinary power at the Justice Department while simultaneously facing accusations of ethical conflicts, political maneuvering, and outright sabotage from inside the MAGA movement itself.
Todd Blanche Is Now Acting Attorney General After Pam Bondi's Ouster
Todd Blanche stepped into the role of deputy attorney general in 2025 and brought a bold and vocal approach that had defined his work as Donald Trump's go-to defense attorney. Now, after Pam Bondi's ouster as attorney general, people close to Blanche say he is consciously moving with speed and decisiveness as he vies for the top job — which is now his to win or lose.
Blanche's rise from Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer to the nation's top law enforcement officer has been one of the most striking career pivots in recent memory, and it is now generating intense scrutiny from all sides of Washington.
Todd Blanche Threatens Media With Subpoenas Over National Security Stories
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warned this week that reporters who receive classified information from government sources will face subpoenas. "Prosecuting leakers who share our nation's secrets with reporters, in turn risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers, is a priority for this administration," Blanche said. "Any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material."
The announcement followed a Wall Street Journal report that the outlet had received subpoenas stemming from its coverage of the war in Iran. Freedom of the Press Foundation chief of advocacy Seth Stern called the action an "outrageous attempt to silence sources, intimidate journalists and bury the truth," adding that the subpoenas were "a direct threat to the public's right to know."
Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi had already rescinded Biden-era guidelines that restricted when prosecutors could use compulsory legal action against reporters, setting the stage for Blanche's escalation. Those previous guidelines framed targeting journalists as an absolute last resort when national security was directly imperiled.
Ethics Bombshell: Todd Blanche Was Told to Recuse From Trump Cases
Less than two weeks after Blanche took on his deputy attorney general role in March 2025, the Justice Department's top ethics lawyer formally told him that recusal from legal cases involving President Donald Trump in a personal capacity was necessary. The official, Joseph Tirrell, handed Blanche and his then-top deputy Emil Bove a printed PowerPoint presentation on ethics during a conference room meeting — an encounter not previously reported until now.
A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that Blanche is complying with ethical obligations, stating he is recused from many cases before the DOJ — the first time the department has publicly acknowledged any recusal. His previous role representing Trump in criminal prosecutions brought by the Justice Department means he is now switching sides, overseeing investigations into former government officials whom Trump claims unfairly targeted him.
Fired FBI Agent Payments: Jamie Raskin Opens Formal Investigation
Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin launched a formal investigation into Todd Blanche, the Justice Department, and FBI Director Kash Patel this week, alleging a scheme to direct millions of taxpayer dollars to FBI agents fired for serious misconduct — many of whom are aligned with Donald Trump politically.
Raskin's list of alleged payouts includes an agent reinstated and given more than $100,000 after leaking details of a probe into the far-right group Project Veritas to the media, and another agent who was reinstated and had his security clearance restored after facing punishment for being in a restricted area of the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
Todd Blanche Attacked From Within the MAGA Movement
Former Trump DOJ political appointee Jonathan Gross has emerged as one of Blanche's most vocal critics from within the MAGA world itself. "Todd Blanche was in charge for over a year and sabotaged Pam Bondi so he could swoop in and take her job," Gross posted publicly. "He's auditioning for AG. Don't be fooled. We need to go in a different direction."
Blanche flatly denied the characterization. "I don't audition for this job," he told CBS News. "I've been the deputy attorney general for over a year, OK? This is not an audition." Gross, who said he was placed on paid leave and eventually left the DOJ after clashing with leadership, has also called Blanche's legal work at the department "very sloppy" and predicted some of its cases would be thrown out by courts.
