By: Emily Nixon
On April 2, the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi as Attorney General (AG). Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defense attorney, was appointed as Acting Attorney General (AAG).
“Over the past 13 months, Attorney General Bondi did an incredible job tackling violent crime, drug cartels, and reforming this department. Our streets are safer because of Pam’s vision and her commitment to justice,” said Blanche at a press conference on April 7.
Colorado-born but a New York native, Blanche got his start with Trump through representing his former campaign chairman, according to PBS. Blanche left his law firm in Manhattan to represent Trump in the New York “hush money” case in 2024, according to the New York Times (NYT). Blanche also changed his political affiliation from New York democrat to Florida republican before representing Trump, according to the NYT.
Despite losing the case, Trump remained impressed with Blanche’s legal prowess and appointed him to be Deputy Attorney General in March, 2025, according to a press release by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
The reasoning behind Bondi’s removal has been unclear to the public, and the media’s speculation has become a source of frustration for Blanche.
“Nobody has any idea why the Attorney General is no longer the Attorney General, and I am the acting Attorney General except for Trump,” said Blanche. “I grow tired of people in the media saying why President Trump did or did not do something because President Trump’s the only one that knows that.”
During the conference, Blanche explained his view of his career’s future.
“I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump; it’s the greatest honor of a lifetime, and if President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that’s an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that’s an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else, and I go back to being the DAG [Deputy Attorney General], that’s an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much. I love you, Sir.’ So, I don’t have any goals or aspirations beyond that.”
When discussing his priorities as AAG, Blanche advocated the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plan to refocus its attention on prosecuting “fraud against taxpayers’ dollars.”
“With over a trillion dollars at stake every single year threatened by increasingly sophisticated and opportunistic fraudsters, the time for this comprehensive and coordinated approach is now,” said Blanche. “Today, I’m proud to announce in greater detail the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED). Its core mission will be to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal taxpayer dollars and rip off the American People.”
Blanche also shared examples of the department’s successes against “fraudsters,” such as a “guilty plea in a $160 million health care enrollment fraud scheme.”
“Because of this administration’s leadership, fraudsters, scammers, tax cheats, or anyone who lies to get rich off the generosity of the American people should be on notice,” said Blanche. “So to the fraudsters who seek to take advantage of our nation, let this be a warning. The department will investigate you. We will charge you with crimes, and we will ensure that you are punished for your actions.”
During the conference, Blanche promised new employees who joined the new anti-fraud division full support in their roles as federal prosecutors.
“To the attorneys and staff who join this new division, you will have the entire department’s support as you work to protect the financial integrity of our entire government and the tax system that supports it. We will spare no resources in giving you the tools that you need to bring strong cases and do justice,” said Blanche.
During the conference, Blanche appointed Colin McDonald to lead the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED), adding more duties to McDonald’s role as Assistant Attorney General (AAG).
“We are going to staff this division by some of the department’s best prosecutors, bringing together experts in healthcare fraud, tax fraud, benefits fraud, and corporate fraud under one roof with one mission: to protect the American people from fraud.”
Blanche refuted questions suggesting the DOJ has been “weaponized” under Trump’s administration.
“When I am asked questions, or I see reporting about shock and awe at this supposed weaponization of this Department of Justice, it means nothing to me because it’s completely false,” said Blanche. “People say the president wants to go after his political enemies. No, the president has said time and time again that he wants justice.”
The President’s calls for the prosecution of his perceived “political enemies” have been a point of suspicion for the public. Blanche explained how the department had been handling these calls during the conference.
“We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now, and it is true that some of them involve men, women, and entities that the president in the past has had issues with and believes should be investigated. That is his right, and indeed it is his duty to do that, meaning to lead this country,” said Blanche.
Blanche said these calls from the President would not change the DOJ’s work.
“So, I do not view this as pressure. I do not view this as something that is going to keep me up at night, except to make sure that we are investigating every case that we have to the fullest extent of the law and using all the resources we can,” said Blanche.
When asked about the firings of DOJ attorneys who investigated President Trump, Blanche said he would not comment on the situation during the conference, but gave an example of his views.
“If you were a prosecutor, and you were trying to prosecute your boss, you have ethical duties as a lawyer that, I think, prevent you from continuing to work in that environment. […] You have a duty to do the right thing,” said Blanche. “In cases where you had prosecutors that were absolutely not doing the right thing […] I hope everybody agrees that they shouldn’t work [at the DOJ] if [they’re] not doing the right thing.”
When asked how his leadership style would differ in respect to his new role, Blanche swore to employ the same level of leadership he had been exerting in his previous role.
“I’m going to lead the way I’ve been leading as the deputy attorney general, which is a job that requires the same type of leadership I need to have now.”