Attorney Todd Blanche, who defended Donald Trump in his criminal New York hush-money trial, has emerged as a top candidate for U.S. attorney general.
The opening emerged after the sudden withdrawal of the president-elects first pick, Matt Gaetz.
Blanche had already been tapped by Trump, who named him to be Gaetzs No. 2 at the Department of Justice as deputy AG, among his slew of Cabinet and West Wing picks.
I am pleased to announce that Todd Blanche will serve as Deputy Attorney General in my Administration, the 78-year-old former president announced last week.
Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long.
Trump touted the 50-year-olds experience in prosecuting gangs and the fact he stood by his side during the Manhattan case where he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to the payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Emil Bove, another attorney on the hush money trial team, was given the role of principal associate deputy attorney general while John Sauer, the lawyer in Trumps Supreme Court immunity case, was chosen as solicitor general.
Attorney Todd Blanche listens as his client former President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, May 30, 2024
Blanche was already up for a post that requires Senate confirmation.
His close relationship with the president could make for a bumpy road with Democrats in the Senate as the Justice Department is expected to be run independently of a presidents desires.
But Republicans will have the majority come January.
Trump has also appointed another member of his defense team, Bove, to serve as principal associate deputy attorney general.
Prior to the Trump case, Bove was the co-chief of the national security unit at the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York.
In a statement to CNN when he was hired, Blanche called Bove an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation.
Gaetz withdrew his name following a new allegation that the embattled Republican had a threesome that involved a minor.
The announcement came a day after the House Ethics Committee deadlocked on releasing a report into allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use by Gaetz.
Donald Trump, sitting with attorneys Emil Bove (L) and Todd Blanche (R), attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 21, 2024
Former US President Donald Trump, with his lawyer Todd Blanche, walks to speak to the press at the end of the day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 16, 2024.
On Wednesday, Gaetz had met with Republican senators whose support he would have needed to be confirmed as attorney general.
Many senators had privately expressed concerns about whether he could be confirmed due to the ethics investigation about allegations of drug uses, sex parties and sex with a minor.
Gaetz has already resigned from the House of Representatives for this term but was re-elected to the Congress that is sworn into office on January 3rd. He will return as a lawmaker.