Former federal prosecutor slams Todd Blanche's confirmation as Trump’s attorney general
James D. Zirin, a former Southern District of New York prosecutor, denounced Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation, calling it the worst appointment of the Trump era.
Former Southern District of New York prosecutor James D. Zirin wrote a scathing piece criticizing the Senate’s approval of Todd Blanche as attorney general, labeling it the most detrimental appointment of Donald Trump’s second term. He asserted that the confirmation betrays the Senate and undermines legal norms, ranking Blanche below figures like Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kristi Noem. Zirin pointed to over 1,200 DOJ colleagues and 35 former federal judges who urged rejection, noting accusations that Blanche has misled courts and compromised the department’s presumption of regularity.
He also highlighted the DOJ’s inability to secure grand-jury indictments on several high-profile cases and condemned Blanche’s politicized management of the Epstein files, citing one outlet's report. The column concludes that an attorney general should serve the law, not partisan agendas, and questions the wisdom of confirming Blanche despite his imperfections.
Why it matters
The critique underscores concerns that the DOJ’s leadership may prioritize political loyalty over impartial justice.
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