Legal Intelligence

Trump Nominates Todd Blanche as Permanent Attorney General

The nomination of Blanche — who oversaw the release of DOJ's Epstein files and previously served as Trump's personal defense attorney — places the Justice Department's top post in the hands of a...

The Congressional Times · June 5, 2026

President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as the permanent head of the Department of Justice, according to a CBS News report dated June 5, 2026. Blanche assumed the acting AG role following the departure of Pam Bondi from the administration. Blanche described the expected nomination as an honor, stating he is 'honored and humbled' by the president's confidence, per the CBS News report.

Bondi, in a separate appearance reported by ABC News on June 5, 2026, declined to answer questions about any communications she may have had with President Trump regarding the release of DOJ files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi stated that then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche handled the release of those files, according to the ABC News report. The precise scope of Blanche's role in that process — and whether written directives, memos, or communications exist documenting his decision-making — is not established in currently available public records.

Blanche previously served as a private defense attorney representing Donald Trump in federal criminal proceedings prior to joining the Justice Department. That prior representation is a matter of public court record in United States v. Trump, Case No. 23-cr-80101 (S.D. Fla.) and the related New York state proceedings. Ethics rules governing federal officials, codified at 28 C.F.R. § 45.2, generally require recusal from matters in which a government attorney previously represented a party; the scope of any recusal obligations applicable to Blanche in his current role has not been disclosed in any publicly available DOJ filing or Office of Professional Responsibility record as of the date of publication.

A formal nomination to serve as Attorney General would trigger a Senate confirmation process under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The Senate Judiciary Committee would hold confirmation hearings, the schedule for which had not been announced in any public congressional record as of June 5, 2026. A simple majority of the full Senate is required for confirmation.

Several material facts remain unknown. It is not established in any public record what communications, if any, occurred between President Trump and Bondi specifically regarding the Epstein file release. The content and classification status of the referenced DOJ Epstein files have not been fully disclosed in any public court filing or agency release confirmed as of this date. What document would answer this: A FOIA-responsive release of internal DOJ communications, any applicable Office of Professional Responsibility report, and Senate Judiciary Committee testimony from Blanche at confirmation hearings would provide additional public record on these questions.

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