President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice.
Trump revealed the decision during a White House dinner, telling attendees he would direct his team to begin the formal nomination process on Thursday.
A video shared on social media by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino showed the president making the announcement in the Rose Garden. Two sources at the dinner later confirmed the move.
Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general before Trump selected him to become acting attorney general following the departure of Pam Bondi.
Trump had signaled the move earlier in a pre-recorded interview with the podcast “Pod Force One,” praising Blanche’s performance as acting attorney general.
“I wanted to see how he’s received, you know, we put him as acting, and he’s done a very good job, but I’ve known him a long time,” Trump said.
The nomination comes as Blanche has found himself at the center of several high-profile controversies inside the Justice Department.
As acting attorney general, Blanche has also overseen high-profile cases, including securing an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey over a social media post that the Justice Department alleges was a threat against the president.
