Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was formally advised last year to recuse himself from Justice Department matters involving President Donald Trump in his personal capacity, according to CNN.
The report said Justice Department ethics official Joseph Tirrell informed Blanche in March 2025 that his previous work as Trump’s criminal defense attorney created potential conflicts of interest. Blanche had represented Trump in federal cases tied to classified documents and the 2020 election.
In March 2025, DOJ's top ethics lawyer told then-Deputy AG Todd Blanche that he had to recuse from cases involving Trump, whom he once served as personal attorney.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) May 14, 2026
But there's very little clarity on what Blanche is recusing from now that he's acting AG.https://t.co/y3LGj4X0Fd
According to CNN, Blanche signed an ethics pledge restricting his involvement in matters connected to former clients and investigations where he had personal or political relationships.
The Justice Department confirmed Blanche has recused himself from some ongoing cases, though officials declined to specify which ones.
The controversy has intensified after Blanche reportedly delegated oversight of investigations tied to alleged anti-Trump conspiracies while remaining involved in broader Justice Department leadership.
Critics and former ethics officials warned the Trump administration’s reduction of internal ethics staff could weaken safeguards against political conflicts inside the department.
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