Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general, making his former personal lawyer the nation's top law enforcement officer. Because nothing says 'justice is blind' like putting your own attorney in charge of the entire Department of Justice.
The US president suggested earlier this week that Blanche, who has been acting in the role since April after Trump fired Pam Bondi, was getting the nod. 'He's a very talented guy,' Trump told a podcast, in what we can only assume was a glowing reference from a completely unbiased source.
Under Blanche - a staunch Trump ally - the DOJ has embarked on a series of controversial adventures, including unveiling criminal charges against former FBI director James Comey, escalating the investigation into former CIA director John Brennan, and removing press releases about prosecutions of January 6 Capitol rioters. Because apparently the DOJ's mission statement now reads: 'Defend the president, investigate his enemies, and memory-hole the inconvenient stuff.'
Blanche also played a key role in the effort to create a secretive $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump's allies. On Tuesday, he abruptly announced the fund had been axed, amid widespread condemnation. The plan went over about as well as a lead balloon at a helium convention.
The appointment requires Senate confirmation, where even some Republicans pushed back against the proposed fund. So there's still a chance the Senate might decide that putting the president's personal lawyer in charge of federal law enforcement is a bad idea. But don't hold your breath.