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Who Is Todd Blanche? What to Know About Trump's New Pick for Head of Justice Department
The move follows scrutiny over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein files and failed efforts to bring cases against Trump’s political rivals.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi and named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting attorney general, with Bondi transitioning to the private sector.
- The shake-up follows months of scrutiny over the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files that made Bondi a target for criticism, and her struggles to satisfy Trump's demands to prosecute political rivals with multiple investigations rejected by courts.
- Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who defended Trump in the New York hush money case, now leads the department; Trump called his appointee a "very talented and respected Legal Mind" for his loyalty during multiple criminal proceedings.
- Blanche thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve, vowing to "enforce the law" and "keep America safe." He previously oversaw the department's review of more than six million documents related to the Epstein case, declaring it complete in February.
- Regarding potential prosecutions of Epstein associates, Blanche stated "it isn't a crime to party" with him while leaving open the possibility of charges if evidence of misconduct emerged, following his earlier interview with convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
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ANALYSIS | Pam Bondi's loyalty to Trump wasn't enough to keep her job. Here's why
For more than a year, Pam Bondi violated the norms of independence expected from a U.S. attorney general and forced Department of Justice attorneys to do the bidding of President Donald Trump. Yet her loyalty and willingness to turn the department into a weapon of retribution for Trump weren't enough to satisfy the president.
·Canada
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'From bad to worse': Trump's new AG stuns as he stumbles over basic Epstein question
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche startled some political analysts and observers on Thursday when he flubbed a softball question about the Jeffrey Epstein files. Blanche was asked whether the public would learn the identities of the men who abused young women that are mentioned in the Epstein fil...
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources36
Leaning Left10Leaning Right3Center21Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
L 29%
C 62%
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