US President-elect Donald Trump is seriously considering naming his lead attorney Todd Blanche to serve as the next deputy attorney general, the second-highest position in the Justice Department, according to two people familiar with his thinking, Report informs via CNN.
Blanche has represented Trump for the last 18 months and defended him during his criminal hush money trial in Manhattan earlier this year. He has grown close to the president-elect in that time period and is often seen with Trump in Palm Beach and when he travels. Because of his proximity and Trump’s trust in him, it was widely expected inside Trump’s inner circle that if he won, Blanche would likely follow him into the federal government.
One person close to the matter cautioned that no final decisions have been made.
If he is nominated, Blanche would need to be confirmed by the Senate before helping run the department that is one of the most prioritized by Trump. On Wednesday, Trump announced that he’d selected Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general, likely setting off a tough confirmation battle even in the Republican-held Senate.
During his first term in office, Trump selected Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to run the Justice Department, but their relationship quickly soured over special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. At the time, Trump had relied on Sessions when naming his deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, later resigned after a turbulent tenure.
Trump is prioritizing loyalty in his selections this time around.