Trump Nominates Todd Blanche, Who Oversaw Epstein Files Release, as Permanent Attorney General
President Trump named Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent post one day before the House Oversight Committee released the transcript of Pam Bondi’s May 29 closed-door hearing.
Fox NewsPresident Donald Trump announced on May 28, 2026, his intention to nominate Todd Blanche as permanent Attorney General. Blanche has served as Acting Attorney General since April 2, 2026, the same day Trump announced Pam Bondi’s dismissal. The House Oversight Committee released the transcript of Bondi’s May 29 closed-door hearing the following day.
In that testimony, Bondi stated that she delegated oversight of the Epstein files document review process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. ” She added that Blanche was leading the Epstein matter and the release of everything from the beginning. Bondi also stated that the joint DOJ-FBI statement released in July 2025 was penned by Todd Blanche and not by her.
She said Blanche interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell in prison weeks after the July 2025 joint memo release. President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025. Bondi stated that Blanche oversaw the release of millions of documents after the act was signed.
She said Blanche oversaw the redaction process for the Epstein files, including its protocols and guidelines, determining which documents were privileged and making corrections to redactions. “He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files,” Bondi said. She stated that the error rate for the Epstein files redactions was 1 percent, which Blanche had told her.
After the hearing, Bondi posted on X: “NOT TRUE. ” The Justice Department and FBI issued a joint statement in July 2025 finding no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein had kept a client list. A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter in March 2026 requesting that the Government Accountability Office investigate the Justice Department’s Epstein files redaction process.
The letter stated: “Not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. ” Blanche announced during a hearing that the Justice Department will eliminate its Anti-Weaponization Fund. Sen.
Adam Schiff launched a Senate Judiciary Committee inquiry last month into allegations that Blanche disregarded ethics guidance to recuse himself from matters involving President Trump. ” The Justice Department faced scrutiny over website glitches, missing documents, and redactions in its Epstein files disclosure.
Bondi said during the hearing that she was not blaming Blanche for the Epstein files rollout issues.
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