Todd Blanche Biography, Net Worth, Age, Career & Facts

Todd Blanche is an American attorney serving as acting US Attorney General since April 2026. Explore his biography, career as Trump’s defence lawyer, wife Kristine, and rise through the Justice Department.

Todd Blanche is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor, and political appointee who has served as the acting United States Attorney General since April 2026. He previously served as the United States Deputy Attorney General from January 2025 and rose to national prominence as the lead defence attorney for President Donald Trump across multiple criminal cases, including the 2024 New York hush money trial that ended in Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts.

On 2 April 2026, President Trump elevated Blanche to acting Attorney General after dismissing Pam Bondi from the role.

Field	Value
Full Name	Todd Wallace Blanche
Date of Birth	6 August 1974
Age	51 years old (as of 2026)
Place of Birth	Denver, Colorado, United States
Nationality	American
Religion	Christianity
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Dr. Kristine Blanche (m. 1994)
Children	2 — Sydney Blanche (daughter), Justin Blanche (son)
Grandchildren	1 — Blaine (granddaughter, b. September 2023)
Education	BA, American University (1994); JD cum laude, Brooklyn Law School (2003)
Occupation	Attorney, government official
Political Party	Republican (formerly registered Democrat)
Net Worth	Not publicly verified; estimated in the low millions
Known For	Acting US Attorney General; Trump’s lead criminal defence lawyer; founder of Blanche Law

Early Life and Education

Todd Wallace Blanche was born on 6 August 1974 in Denver, Colorado. His father, Richard Blanche, was a Canadian hockey player, while his mother worked as a nurse. Richard managed a religious congregation called the Faith Bible Fellowship from the basement of the family home in Denver. After neighbours complained and local authorities deemed the congregation a zoning violation, Richard was cited for contempt. He vowed to preach from prison and to appeal the ruling, but the Colorado Supreme Court ultimately ruled against him. The incident prompted the Blanche family to relocate to Gainesville, Florida, in 1987.

Blanche attended the New Mexico Military Institute, where New York magazine described him as a “standout athlete.” He briefly attended Louisiana State University in 1992 before transferring to Beloit College the following year. By 1994, he had transferred again to American University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government. He has said he was drawn to American University partly by an interest in politics and partly to be closer to Kristine Vieweg, a biology student at the Catholic University of America whom he had met in Australia. They married in 1994, when Blanche was 20 years old.

After university, Blanche interned at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia before taking a full-time paralegal role at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). While working as a paralegal, he attended Brooklyn Law School at night, graduating cum laude in 2003.

Career

Federal Prosecutor (2003–2014)

After law school, Blanche briefly worked as an associate at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell. He then clerked for Judge Denny Chin of the District Court for the Southern District of New York and Judge Joseph F. Bianco — both of whom later became members of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals.

He returned to the SDNY as an Assistant United States Attorney, where he spent eight years as a federal prosecutor. During this period, he rose to become co-chief of the office’s Violent Crimes Unit, overseeing approximately two dozen prosecutors handling cases involving murders, kidnappings, and other serious violent crimes. His time in federal prosecution established the foundations of his legal reputation.

Private Practice (2014–2023)

Blanche left the US Attorney’s Office in 2014, joining the Manhattan office of WilmerHale. In September 2017, he moved to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, where he became a partner in the White Collar Defence and Investigations practice.

While at Cadwalader, Blanche began representing figures connected to Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani. In June 2019, he took on the representation of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, who had been indicted on state mortgage fraud charges in New York. Blanche successfully argued that the case constituted double jeopardy, and the indictment was dismissed — a decision affirmed by the New York Supreme Court in October 2020. He also represented businessman Igor Fruman, an associate of Giuliani implicated in the Trump–Ukraine scandal, and attorney Boris Epshteyn.

In April 2023, one day before Trump was to be arraigned in the New York hush money case, Blanche was added to Trump’s defence team. He subsequently left Cadwalader, emailing colleagues: “I have been asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought/consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up.” He then founded Blanche Law.

Trump’s Criminal Defence (2023–2024)

Blanche served as Trump’s lead defence attorney across three of the four criminal cases the former president faced between his two terms in office:

The New York hush money trial (2024), brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleged that Trump falsified business records to conceal payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The seven-week trial ended with Trump convicted on all 34 felony counts. Blanche’s defence strategy focused on discrediting key prosecution witnesses Michael Cohen and Daniels. Despite the conviction, Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge — no prison, fines, or probation. He is appealing with a different attorney.

The federal classified documents case in Florida, prosecuted by Special Counsel Jack Smith, charged Trump with improperly retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. The case was dismissed by US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith’s appointment was illegal.

The federal election interference case in Washington, also brought by Smith, was abandoned after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

Trump was reportedly impressed by Blanche’s tenacity, courtroom poise, and television presence throughout these proceedings. Trump described Blanche as “a very talented and respected Legal Mind” on Truth Social.

Deputy Attorney General (2025–2026)

In November 2024, following Trump’s election victory, Blanche was nominated as Deputy Attorney General — the number two position at the US Department of Justice. He was confirmed by the Senate in March 2025 and began overseeing the department’s day-to-day operations under Attorney General Pam Bondi.

As Deputy AG, Blanche became one of the Justice Department’s most visible public figures. He oversaw the release of government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, defended the department against criticism over redaction failures in those files, and appeared frequently on television. He spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in early 2026, where he highlighted the removal of “over 200” officials linked to past investigations of Trump.

He also took several controversial actions during his tenure. He dismissed pardon attorney Liz Oyer, who reportedly refused his request to add actor Mel Gibson to a list of individuals having their gun rights restored. He fired Erez Reuveni, the acting deputy director of the Office of Immigration Litigation, for conceding in court that a Salvadoran man should not have been deported. He barred DOJ lawyers from attending American Bar Association events and announced a leak investigation after intelligence findings contradicted Trump’s claims about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.

In May 2025, Trump dismissed the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, and named Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress — an appointment whose legality has been disputed.

Acting Attorney General (April 2026–Present)

On 2 April 2026, President Trump fired Pam Bondi as Attorney General and elevated Blanche to serve as acting AG. Trump’s decision reportedly followed frustration with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein case and her perceived failure to pursue Trump’s political adversaries with sufficient urgency.

Blanche responded on X: “Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship. Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General. We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”

Career Timeline

Year	Milestone
1994	Graduated from American University; married Kristine Vieweg
2003	Graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School
2003–2014	Served as Assistant US Attorney at the Southern District of New York; became co-chief of Violent Crimes Unit
2014	Joined WilmerHale in private practice
2017	Became partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
2019	Successfully defended Paul Manafort against New York state mortgage fraud charges
April 2023	Joined Trump’s criminal defence team; founded Blanche Law
May 2024	Trump convicted on 34 felony counts in New York hush money trial
November 2024	Nominated as Deputy Attorney General by President Trump
March 2025	Confirmed by the Senate as Deputy Attorney General
May 2025	Named acting Librarian of Congress
2 April 2026	Elevated to acting United States Attorney General after Pam Bondi’s dismissal

Personal Life

Todd Blanche married Dr. Kristine Vieweg Blanche in 1994. They reportedly met in Australia during their early academic years before both settling in the United States. Their marriage, now in its fourth decade, has been described by associates as a stable partnership that has endured the pressures of Blanche’s demanding legal career.

Kristine holds a PhD in integrative and holistic healthcare. She runs the Integrative Healing Center, a practice that combines traditional medical approaches with alternative healing methods. She studied biology at the Catholic University of America.

The couple have two adult children: a daughter, Sydney, and a son, Justin (born in 1998). Sydney has a daughter named Blaine, born in September 2023, making Todd and Kristine grandparents. The family recently relocated to Palm Beach County, Florida, to align with Blanche’s government role.

Blanche has spoken publicly about the influence of fatherhood on his work ethic, noting that becoming a parent at 20 while attending night law school instilled a “fierce determination to provide and succeed.” He was a registered Democrat before becoming Trump’s lawyer, after which he changed his party affiliation to Republican.

Net Worth and Assets

Todd Blanche’s net worth has not been independently verified by major financial publications. As a former partner at two prestigious law firms (WilmerHale and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft) and founder of his own firm representing high-profile clients, his earnings from private practice are estimated to have been substantial.

His current income derives from his role as a senior government official. The Deputy Attorney General’s salary is set at Executive Level II of the federal pay scale. His transition from lucrative private practice to government service likely represented a significant pay cut, though the political capital gained through his proximity to the Trump administration has elevated his profile considerably.

Interesting Facts About Todd Blanche

1. He was a registered Democrat before becoming Trump’s criminal defence lawyer, after which he switched to the Republican Party.
2. His father was a Canadian hockey player who moved the family from Denver to Florida after a dispute over running a church from their basement.
3. He attended Brooklyn Law School at night while working as a paralegal at the same US Attorney’s Office where he would later become a federal prosecutor.
4. He married his wife Kristine at the age of 20, while still an undergraduate at American University.
5. He met Kristine in Australia before either of them had settled in the United States.
6. Despite Trump’s conviction on all 34 counts in the hush money trial, Trump was sufficiently impressed with Blanche’s performance to appoint him to one of the most powerful positions in the Justice Department.
7. He simultaneously holds (or has held) three government roles: Deputy Attorney General, acting Librarian of Congress, and acting Attorney General.
8. He became a grandfather in September 2023 when his daughter Sydney’s daughter, Blaine, was born.

Quotations by Todd Blanche

“I have been asked to represent Trump in the recently charged DA case, and after much thought/consideration, I have decided it is the best thing for me to do and an opportunity I should not pass up.” — Todd Blanche, in an email to Cadwalader colleagues upon his resignation, April 2023

“The majority of the American people also agree that this case should not have been brought. The American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this was the kind of case that should’ve been brought.” — Todd Blanche, addressing Judge Juan Merchan at Trump’s sentencing hearing, January 2025

“We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.” — Todd Blanche, responding to his appointment as acting Attorney General, 2 April 2026

Final Thoughts

Todd Blanche’s trajectory from paralegal to acting United States Attorney General is one of the most rapid and unusual rises in modern American legal history. His career has been shaped by a combination of prosecutorial experience, strategic private practice, and a willingness to take on the most high-profile and politically charged client in American law — Donald Trump. Whether that decision was one of legal conviction or career calculation, it has reshaped his life and placed him at the centre of US politics and justice.

His appointment as acting Attorney General in April 2026 places him in charge of the Justice Department at a moment of significant institutional tension. Critics, including former DOJ officials, have argued that Blanche has functioned more as Trump’s personal lawyer than as an independent law enforcement official. Supporters counter that he is implementing the president’s lawful agenda with the competence and loyalty that the role demands.

At 51, Blanche holds an extraordinary amount of power within the US government. The coming months will determine whether his tenure as acting Attorney General is a brief transitional period or the beginning of a longer chapter in his already unconventional career.