What to know about Todd Blanche, Trump's pick for acting attorney general

Key Points:

• Andrew Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and law firm partner, led Donald Trump's criminal defense team, notably handling the New York hush money case that resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts, as well as two federal cases later abandoned by special counsel Jack Smith.
• Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general, the Justice Department's second-in-command, managing daily operations and becoming a prominent public defender of the department under Attorney General Pam Bondi.
• His legal career began as a paralegal and law student in Manhattan, followed by roles as a federal prosecutor and law clerk for federal judges, before moving into private practice where he defended high-profile clients including Paul Manafort.
• Blanche resigned from his law firm in 2023 to join Trump's defense team ahead of the hush money case arraignment, earning Trump's praise for his tenacity and courtroom poise despite the conviction outcome.
• In addition to the hush money case, Blanche led Trump's defense against federal charges related to the 2020 election and classified documents, successfully employing delay tactics until after the 2024 election, after which the cases were dropped due to DOJ policy against indicting sitting presidents.