In May 2025, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, arrived at an ICE detention center in his New Jersey city and requested a visit. Although he was initially allowed to enter the gate of the station, he was soon confronted by about a dozen police officers and asked to leave. And so he did.
For a moment, it looked like that would be the end of this incident, but then one of the officers got a call. The video, which was later submitted to federal court, shows the officer turning to his fellow law enforcement officers after the call and informing them, “We’re arresting the mayor right now, according to the deputy attorney general of the United States.”
That deputy attorney general was Todd Blanche, who is now acting head of the Department of Justice. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he would to appoint Blanche to be the attorney general of the United States confirmed by the Senate.
The performance standards for this selection are very low. Federal law provides that if the job of attorney general is vacant, “The Deputy Attorney General can perform all the duties of that office.” And the Senate he has already confirmed Blanche as deputy AG (or “DAG” as the job is known within the DOJ). So, Blanche has already been leading the Justice Department since former Attorney General Pam Bondi left in April, and, one way or another, she will continue to do so.
But Trump’s decision to nominate Blanche shows the president’s confidence in a man who has distinguished himself by his willingness to act as Trump’s toad. If he is officially confirmed, that cannot change.
Blanche is a Trump fan
Blanche was Trump’s personal lawyer before coming to the Justice Department. As a DAG, Blanche took charge Department of Justice criminal investigations and prosecutions, including DOJ’s 93 US Attorneys Offices and law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.
That means Blanche’s involvement in Baraka’s arrest was not an isolated incident — in the case that dismissed the charges against Baraka, a federal court judge chided the DOJ for “using excessive government power to order. pursuing weak cases or giving examples without sufficient reasons.” Blanche was the Justice Department’s top executive overseeing political prosecutions targeting various Trump enemies, including the former FBI Director. James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Trump reportedly decided to fire Blanche’s predecessor, Bondi, in part due to the president’s belief that Bondi “it did not move strongly enough against perceived political enemies of the White House.” Since taking over Bondi’s job duties, Blanche seems to be working hard to reassure Trump that he won’t make the same mistakes.
Although a federal court dismissed the first phase of the federal indictment against Comey, the department led by Blanche charged Comey with publishing a picture of sea missiles planned to create the number “86 47.” “86” is the language of the restaurant is often used to say that something should be removed or unavailable. “47” refers to Trump, the 47th president of the United States.
The message that says the sitting president should be removed is of course it is protected by the First AmendmentBut Blanche’s Justice Department claims that the former FBI director was threatening Trump’s life.
Similarly, under Blanche’s leadership, the Department of Justice was reported launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carrollcolumnist who won $88.3 million in damages against Trump after a jury found Trump liable for sexual harassment and defamation.
Blanche’s primary qualification for the job of attorney general, in other words, appears to be her desire to use the incredible power of the Justice Department as a weapon against people who have previously despised her or fought Donald Trump.
Blanche was also the face of Trump’s $1.8 billion “slush fund.”
Blanche was also a key figure in a Trump-led scheme that closely resembles embezzlement.
Last month, Blanche’s Law Department announced the creation of a $1.776 billion “Anti-Disarmament Fund”. which can be used to distribute funds from the US Treasury to Trump’s allies, including those involved in the January 6 uprising in the US Capitol. The fund would be managed by five people chosen by Blanche.
The DOJ press release announcing the fund clearly states that the fund was “established” by the “Attorney General,” a role that is played by Blanche.
One problem with this fund is that the Constitution forbids money to be drawn from the Treasury without the consent of the parliament. The Justice Department apparently became involved in the fund as part of a plan to meet this constitutional requirement.
Although Congress has never authorized this slush bag – in fact, a slush bag apparently he has been killed because of bipartisan opposition to it in Congress — there is an existing federal law that allows the Treasury to do so pay plaintiffs who have successfully sued the federal government. So Trump opened a false case against the United States. Then his lawyers “settled” this case with the Department of Justice, which is headed by Blanche, who is also a former personal lawyer of Trump.
In a different presidential administration, the involvement of a Cabinet official in such a scheme would have led to resignation, or worse. Again, Todd Blanche conspired with Trump to steal nearly $1.8 billion from the US government. He also humiliated Trump and disgusted Congress by signing this plan.
But in the Trump administration, honesty is valued more than ability or following the law. As acting AG, Blanche frequently targeted Trump’s perceived enemies and helped orchestrate one of Trump’s cockamamie schemes. So, instead of asking her to resign, Trump wants to promote Blanche.
One open question, however, is whether Blanche will succeed as Trump’s executor. Bond turned out to be an incompetent title when he took over the Justice Department, and the DOJ’s Bond-era attempts to target Trump’s enemies largely failed. Blanche’s mismanagement of the $1.8 billion fund may be an early sign that she’s up to no good.
