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Ethics questions surround Todd Blanche before Acting U.S. Attorney General role; Trump cases in focus
Todd Blanche was advised by the DOJ's top ethics official to recuse from Trump-related matters after joining the department in 2025, according to CNN. The article highlights his prior representation of Trump and raises questions about potential conflicts as he oversees investigations involving the former president. The DOJ acknowledged recusal in some cases and the reporting notes Blanche's handling of related probes.
Why It Matters
The ethics determinations shape who oversees Trump-related investigations and may influence how such probes are conducted moving forward.
Timeline
5 Events
May 14, 2026 — DiGenova hired to revive Trump-related investigations; focus on Brennan
May 14, 2026
CNN reported that former federal prosecutor Joe diGenova was brought in to revive investigations tied to Trump’s claims of political weaponization, with a focus reportedly including former CIA Director John Brennan.
May 14, 2026 — Blanche delegated oversight of broader conspiracy probe
May 14, 2026
CNN reported that Blanche delegated oversight of the broader conspiracy probe to senior aides and has not attended meetings related to the matter in recent months.
May 14, 2026 — DOJ acknowledges recusal from certain investigations
May 14, 2026
The Justice Department acknowledged for the first time that Blanche has recused himself from certain investigations, though officials declined to specify which ones.
March 2025 — Blanche signs ethics pledge
March 2025
Blanche signed an ethics pledge after the briefing, committing to recuse from cases involving former clients of Blanche Law Group for at least one year, reflecting the department's recusal expectations.
March 2025 — DOJ ethics briefing on Blanche's recusal
March 2025
Joseph Tirrell, then the DOJ’s senior ethics official, briefed Todd Blanche and his deputy Emil Bove at a March 2025 meeting and provided a printed ethics presentation outlining potential conflicts. The briefing marked the first formal notification that ethics rules required Blanche to recuse from Trump-related matters.