Trump nominates Todd Blanche to lead DOJ amid GOP doubts

President Donald Trump has formally nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney and the current acting attorney general, to lead the Department of Justice on a permanent basis. The nomination, sent to the Senate on Monday, June 8, 2026, sets up a contentious confirmation battle where Blanche faces significant skepticism from within his own party.

Blanche, 51, has served as acting attorney general since April, following the dismissal of former Attorney General Pam Bondi. He was previously confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 on a strict party-line vote. His path to confirmation is now uncertain, as several Republican senators have expressed deep reservations, primarily over his role in a now-abandoned administration proposal to create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals claiming unfair targeting by government investigations.

The proposed "anti-weaponization fund" drew swift bipartisan backlash, with critics arguing it could reward those convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including assaults on police officers. Blanche declined to publicly rule out such eligibility during a hearing last month, fueling the controversy....