Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday moved swiftly to put his stamp on the Department of Justice, issuing a series of memos to staff on his first official day leading the agency.
In a memo obtained by CNN, Blanche reaffirmed the department's focus on public safety and the administration's agenda, writing: "Our mission here at the Department remains the same today as it was yesterday. President Trump has promised a safe America and will continue to deliver on that promise."
Blanche also reportedly praised former Attorney General Pam Bondi, thanking her for her "friendship, service, and selfless dedication to our department and country."
In a separate memo to staff in the deputy attorney general's office, Blanche said he will move into the attorney general's fifth-floor office on Monday.
The acting attorney general also announced key staffing moves, elevating allies to senior roles.
In a Thursday afternoon post on X, Blanche said Trent McCotter will serve as principal associate deputy attorney general.
He added that Colin McDonald — currently assistant attorney general in the department's new fraud division — will continue assisting in the deputy attorney general's office while remaining in his current role.
According to CNN, Bondi learned she was being removed from her post last Wednesday while riding in a car with President Donald Trump from the White House to the Supreme Court.
Speaking at his first public press conference as head of the Justice Department on Tuesday, Blanche highlighted the unusual transition, telling reporters, "Nobody has any idea why the attorney general is no longer the attorney general and I'm the acting attorney general except for President Trump."
According to Newsmax's Ed Henry, Trump's frustration that Bondi had not moved fast enough to pursue indictments against Democrats for what he has described as "lawfare" was a contributing factor to her removal.
"Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900," Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
"We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General," Trump concluded.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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