President-elect Donald Trump has nominated his private attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general.
“I am pleased to announce that Todd Blanche will serve as Deputy Attorney General for Administration. Todd is an outstanding attorney who will be an important leader in the Department of Justice, fixing what has been a broken Justice System for far too long,” Trump announced in a press release Thursday evening.
“Todd will do a great job like us, Make America Great Again,” he wrote.
Blanche represented Trump during his criminal trial in Manhattan earlier this year, and became the centerpiece of Trump's daily press conferences, as he stood behind the 45th president while criticizing the case to the media.
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Former President Trump gives brief remarks with his attorney, Todd Blanche, after the conclusion of Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, May 30. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records following his own A crime scene in Manhattan in May. Trump has denied wrongdoing in the case, repeatedly calling it a “scam” and “fraud” and a “witch hunt” launched by Democrats to hurt his re-election chances before November 5.
The Manhattan judge who was in charge of the case, Juan Merchan, agreed to suspend all the days related to the trial of Trump's conviction earlier this week. This decision follows the decision of the Supreme Court in July that former presidents do not have the right to be prosecuted for their legal actions, but not for illegal actions.
During Trump's lengthy trial, which ran from mid-April to late May, Blanche defended Trump in court and in public during press conferences.
“President Trump is innocent. President Trump has not committed a crime. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office should never have brought this case,” Blanche said in her opening statement during the trial.
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Attorney Todd Blanche listens as his client former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during his hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The deputy attorney general is the second most powerful position in the Department of Justice, and involves overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department. Trump has announced Florida attorney Matt Gaetz as his attorney general pick, sending shockwaves through Democrats and some Republicans in Washington, DC.
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“Gaetz has been a great defender of Trump when it comes to Trump's attacks on democracy. His attempt to overthrow the government on January 6. And he has publicly called for the abolition of law enforcement agencies if they are not in line with political priorities. ,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in favor of the election.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., raises his hand on stage during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Gaetz said it would be an “honor” to serve in the Trump administration earlier this week, and he celebrated Trump's choice of Blanche as deputy on Thursday.
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“We're building an amazing team at the Justice Department in the Trump/Vance Administration! Todd Blanche and Emil Bove are brilliant litigants and have great legal minds. We can't wait to get to work for the American People,” Gaetz posted on X.
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Last week, following Trump's landslide victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, reports circulated that the FBI reportedly informed Blanche that Chinese hackers had hacked her phone and obtained audio recordings and texts, Fox News Digital previously reported. Chinese hackers reportedly targeted Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and people connected to the Harris campaign.
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
