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Pam Bondi Ouster Not Without Precedent
Pres. Trump's decision to fire Pam Bondi as his attorney general is not without precedent. Political Historian Rich Rubino provides context.
WASHINGTON - Todd Blanche has been appointed as acting attorney general after President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi would be leaving the Justice Department.
Blanche was serving as Trump’s deputy attorney general and rose to prominence after representing the president in his criminal cases between his first and second terms.
Who is Todd Blanche?
Dig deeper:
Blanche is 51 years old and a native of Denver, Colorado.
He was a former federal prosecutor and law partner before he joined Trump’s criminal defense team.
Blanche represented the president during his New York hush money case, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts, and a pair of federal cases brought by special counsel Jack, both of which have been abandoned.
FILE - Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a news conference to announce the indictment of a former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, charging him with murder and money laundering in connection to a drug trafficking organization at the Just …
What's next:
It is unclear if Blanche will become the permanent replacement as attorney general.
There have been reports that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin could be tapped as Trump’s permanent choice.
Trump will likely want the successor to carry out his aggressive legal agenda, including cleaning up any fallout from the handling of the Epstein files, as well as going after the president’s perceived political enemies.
Todd Blanche reacts to Pam Bondi ouster
During an interview with "Jesse Waters Primetime" on Thursday, Blanche denied reports that the president removed Bondi due to his frustration over handling the Epstein files.
What they're saying:
"I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was — that anything that happened to her — had anything to do with the Epstein files," Blanche said.
"We are a better Justice Department, we are safer as a nation, and we should all be very grateful to the attorney general for her sacrifice for this country and for what she did," he added.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from previous reporting by The Associated Press, FOX News, Axios, The Hill and The New York Times. This story was reported from San Jose.