Todd Blanche Named Interim US Attorney General after Trump Removes Pam Bondi

President Donald Trump announced on April 2, 2026 that he has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi and appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as interim head of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney in criminal cases, signed a memo as deputy attorney general ordering prosecutors not to pursue regulatory violation cases in the crypto industry and disbanded the DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, while his latest ethics disclosure showed he held between $159,000 and $485,000 in cryptocurrencies when he signed the enforcement memo, potentially violating ethics rules.

Blanche’s Crypto Enforcement Memo Shifted DOJ Policy

As deputy attorney general, Blanche signed a four-page memo ordering federal prosecutors not to pursue regulatory violation cases in the crypto industry. The document was referenced in the Southern District of New York’s case against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, eventually leading that office to drop a charge against Storm. Blanche also ordered the disbanding of the DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, which was formed in 2022 under former President Joe Biden.

According to Blanche’s most recent government ethics disclosure, dated July 10, 2025, he transferred his crypto asset holdings to his children and a grandchild, including Bitcoin, Solana, Cardano, and Ethereum. His disclosure form also noted holdings in Polygon, Polkadot, and Quant, as well as Coinbase stock. ProPublica reported that he still held these cryptocurrencies—totaling between $159,000 and $485,000—when he signed the enforcement memo, in apparent violation of ethics rules and his pledge to divest before working on crypto-related matters.

Blanche previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York and was confirmed as deputy attorney general by the Senate in March 2025.

Bondi’s Tenure Marked by Loyalty to Trump and Controversial Prosecution Efforts

Trump announced Bondi’s removal in a post on his social media platform, stating that she would transition to a new role in the private sector to be announced later. Bondi posted that leading the Justice Department had been the honor of a lifetime and the most consequential first year in American history, adding that she would work tirelessly to transition the office to Blanche.

During her tenure, Bondi emphasized her personal loyalty to Trump and echoed his grievances about the DOJ and FBI being “weaponized” against him. Her attempts to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James fell apart after a federal judge ruled that the Trump-appointed prosecutor who indicted them was appointed unlawfully. An effort by U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro to indict six Democratic lawmakers was rejected by a grand jury.

Trump had expressed frustration to aides about the pace and effectiveness of the Justice Department’s ability to target his political opponents. Bondi’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee in February, in which she repeatedly yelled at lawmakers and sidestepped questions about the DOJ’s handling of files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, drew criticism at the White House. Weeks later, a bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Bondi for a deposition on the Epstein files in mid-April.

Leadership Change Raises Questions About DOJ Direction

The shakeup comes as Democrats and voting rights groups have expressed concern that the White House may seek to use the DOJ and FBI to intervene in the November 2026 midterm elections. Blanche recently appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he cheered the purge of prosecutors who previously worked on investigations into Trump and defended the DOJ from criticism by the MAGA base.

Blanche stated that when people ask why the DOJ isn’t doing more, he welcomes that criticism and that pressure motivates him. Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia stated that the subpoena issued to Bondi remains in effect regardless of her status as attorney general.

FAQ

What changes did Todd Blanche make to DOJ crypto enforcement as deputy attorney general?

Blanche signed a memo ordering prosecutors not to pursue regulatory violation cases in the crypto industry and disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team. The memo was cited in the case against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, leading prosecutors to drop one charge against him.

What ethics concerns have been raised about Blanche’s crypto holdings?

Blanche’s July 2025 ethics disclosure showed he held between $159,000 and $485,000 in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Solana, Cardano, and Ethereum when he signed the crypto enforcement memo, in apparent violation of ethics rules and his pledge to divest before working on crypto-related matters.

Why was Pam Bondi removed as attorney general?

President Trump announced Bondi’s removal without specifying a reason, though sources indicated months of mounting frustration that the Justice Department wasn’t doing enough to target Trump’s political opponents for prosecution. Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files and her contentious appearance before the House Judiciary Committee were also cited as factors.