Overview
- President Trump this week nominated acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be the permanent attorney general and his nomination now moves to a narrowly divided Senate Judiciary Committee for review.
- Senators and critics point to an April 2025 memo Blanche wrote that disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and narrowed DOJ crypto prosecutions while he held personal crypto assets.
- Blanche disclosed crypto holdings worth roughly six figures and has pledged to divest within 90 days of confirmation, a step critics say came after he changed enforcement policy.
- New reporting ties Blanche to internal efforts to manage the release of Epstein-related files and says he offered to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, prompting Rep. James Comer to demand Blanche testify to Congress.
- Editorials and lawmakers across the political spectrum have warned his confirmation could politicize the Justice Department and shape DOJ priorities on investigations and crypto enforcement if he is confirmed.