Blanche's DOJ Nomination Draws Fire
DOJ Alumni and Judges Oppose Todd Blanche's Nomination Over Politicization Claims
Key Points
In Alaska, Blanche said his visit aims to understand the state’s unique federal challenges and included plans to visit rural and Native communities, highlighting a willingness to engage directly with local concerns during his confirmation push.
A bar complaint has been filed against Blanche by judges, as part of broader opposition from the legal community, with reports noting involvement from dozens of judges in addition to the DOJ alumni letter.
Blanche’s timeline shows he has been acting attorney general since April after Pam Bondi was fired, previously served as deputy attorney general since March 2025, and was nominated by the White House to make the post permanent on June 8.
Blanche approved an $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' intended to compensate Trump loyalists amid political prosecutions, a move that drew backlash and was reported as temporarily paused.
Blanche previously represented Donald Trump in three of his criminal cases, underscoring his close alignment with the former president's interests as he seeks to lead the DOJ.
More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees have signed a letter urging the Senate to reject Todd Blanche as attorney general, saying he has 'utterly failed to abide by' his oath of office, according to Talking Points Memo. The letter, organized by the alumni group Justice Connection, accuses Blanche of creating a culture of fear, demonizing career staff, and bending the DOJ to serve President Trump's political interests.
Blanche brushed off the letter during a trip to Alaska, where he was visiting rural and Native communities and building support ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing set for mid-July, Alaska's News Source reported. The acting attorney general has held the post since April, after Pam Bondi was fired, and was formally nominated on June 8.
1,200 Former Officials Say DOJ Is Now Weaponized
The letter, obtained by Politico and reported by Daily Kos, was signed by former FBI agents, analysts, career attorneys, and political appointees from both parties. Signers say Blanche ordered staff to pledge loyalty to the president and pulled employees off mission-critical work. They also accuse him of erasing accountability for January 6 participants and mishandling the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files.
Critics say the fallout has been massive. The department has seen roughly 16,000 departures under Blanche's leadership, according to Tickle the Wire. Signers of the letter warn that confirming Blanche permanently would finish off what they call the DOJ's apolitical mission — the idea that prosecutions follow evidence, not politics.
Blanche's Past as Trump's Personal Lawyer Raises Alarms
Before joining the DOJ, Blanche represented Donald Trump in three separate criminal cases. Critics say that history makes it impossible for him to lead the department without bias. Talking Points Memo noted that Justice Connection called this a direct conflict with the department's core duty to apply the law equally.
Blanche also approved an $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' designed to pay out money to Trump allies who claim they were politically targeted by prosecutors. The move drew criticism from members of both parties and was later reported to be temporarily paused, according to Daily Kos.
Judges and Lawyers File Complaints Against Blanche
The opposition goes beyond former DOJ staff. Dozens of sitting judges have joined a bar complaint filed against Blanche, according to Alaska's News Source. Bar complaints are formal challenges to a lawyer's fitness to practice. If successful, they can result in suspension or disbarment.
The breadth of opposition — from career prosecutors to federal judges — is unusual, legal observers say. Blanche has dismissed the criticism. During his Alaska trip, he told reporters he is focused on understanding the state's unique federal challenges, not on what former employees think of his leadership, Head Topics reported.
Senate Confirmation Battle Heads Into July
Blanche's path to confirmation is not certain. Republican resistance exists in the Senate, and the Judiciary Committee hearing is not scheduled until mid-July. In the meantime, he continues to serve as acting attorney general — a position he has held since April after moving up from deputy attorney general, a role he took in March 2025.
Supporters argue Blanche brings strong law-and-order credentials. But critics say his record — the Trump legal work, the $1.8 billion fund, the mass staff departures — shows a DOJ being run for political ends. Tickle the Wire reported that the alumni letter frames the Senate vote as a choice about whether the rule of law still applies at the nation's top law enforcement agency.
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