The Civic Node

Todd Blanche

5 min read

Overview

Acting Attorney General of the United States (as of April 2026); served as Deputy Attorney General before that, the role in which he made the critical January 18, 2026 statement that DOJ is “not investigating” the killing of Renée Good. Previously Trump’s personal defense attorney in the 2024 federal criminal cases. The Floyd/Good asymmetry — the first Trump DOJ launched a civil rights probe into George Floyd’s death three days after it happened in May 2020, leading to four officers’ convictions; the second Trump DOJ has declined any investigation of Renée Good’s killing in the same city six years later — runs through Blanche’s office. Also signed the April 23, 2026 DOJ order rescheduling FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

Key Facts

  • January 18, 2026: As Deputy AG, told Fox News DOJ is “not investigating” Ross/Good shooting. Direct quote: “We are not going to bow to pressure from the media, bow to pressure from politicians, and do something that we never do — not under this administration, not under the last administration. So no, we are not investigating.” Claim that DOJ “never” responds to public outrage over killings is factually contradicted by his own department’s documented Floyd response in 2020. Justice department not investigating Renee Good killing in contrast to 2020 inquiry on George Floyd death
  • After federal prosecutor resignations in protest of the Good non-investigation, Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel visited Minneapolis to meet with prosecutors and federal immigration officers — a documented pressure visit.
  • Blanche promised to “prosecute anyone attacking or obstructing” ICE officers — DOJ separately investigating Good’s widow Becca Good for allegedly impeding Ross before he fired.
  • Signed the April 23, 2026 order moving FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical-marijuana products to Schedule III, implementing Trump’s December 2025 executive directive. DOJ Reschedules FDA-Approved and State-Medical Marijuana to Schedule III — CBS
  • Framed the rescheduling as fulfilling a Trump campaign promise on medical access.
  • DOJ and DEA simultaneously opened an expedited administrative hearing (late June 2026) to consider broader Schedule I → III rescheduling.
  • May 22, 2026 — Kilmar Abrego indictment dismissed; Blanche’s prior Fox News statement load-bearing: U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw (Nashville, TN; Obama appointee) dismissed the federal human-smuggling indictment against Kilmar Abrego, finding the Trump DOJ had “abused its power” by prosecuting Abrego in retaliation for his successful lawsuit challenging deportation to El Salvador. Crenshaw’s October 2025 vindictive-prosecution finding had relied on Blanche’s Fox News statement that DOJ began investigating Abrego after Judge Paula Xinis questioned the original deportation. Crenshaw notes Blanche did not testify at the February 26, 2026 dismissal hearing to rebut the finding. DOJ will appeal; Blanche’s prior cable-news appearance is now part of the load-bearing court record establishing vindictive prosecutorial motive. US Judge Dismisses Kilmar Abrego Indictment Finding DOJ Abused Power — Reuters - 2026-05-22
  • May 22, 2026 — Permanent IRS-tax-claim bar against Trump’s family/businesses (Reuters surfacing of pre-existing settlement): As part of a settlement of Trump’s dropped $10B lawsuit against the IRS (filed over the Charles Littlejohn leak of Trump’s tax returns), Blanche signed an agreement permanently barring the IRS from pursuing tax claims against Trump, his family, or his businesses. DOJ in parallel created a ~$1.8B fund to pay “supposed victims of ‘government weaponization.‘” The agreement is the most consequential single Blanche-signed Trump-conflict-of-interest accommodation documented in the wiki. Exclusive US Tax Officials Consider Adding Citizenship Question to Tax Forms — Reuters - 2026-05-22

Newsletter Relevance

Blanche as Acting AG is a governance detail worth tracking — his status reflects the ongoing politicization of the DOJ and the administration’s preference for loyalists over Senate-confirmable nominees in sensitive roles. His role in implementing cannabis policy (a Biden-era policy direction) is a counterexample to pure-reversal narratives about this administration.

Connections

Source Appearances

Open Questions

  • Is Blanche expected to be confirmed as permanent AG, or to remain “Acting”?
  • What is the operational line of authority on the Powell DOJ investigation — Blanche directly, or delegated?
  • Does Blanche’s prior role as Trump’s personal attorney create recusal or conflict-of-interest issues in specific investigations?

Graph View

Backlinks