Trump formally nominates his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump has formally tapped acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to take on the top law enforcement job on a more permanent basis, sending his nomination to the Senate on Monday. Blanche – formerly one of Trump’s personal lawyers – would succeed Pam Bondi, who was fired in April. The formal nomination now tees up the Senate confirmation process. Blanche will need just a majority vote to get confirmed, though his role in handling the Jeffrey Epstein files and in the attempt to create a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to benefit Trump’s allies could complicate the vote. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley indicated he will support Blanche and move quickly on the nomination. “Blanche is well-qualified and has shown his dedication to restoring law and order across our country. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s work to process Blanche’s nomination is underway,” Grassley said in a statement. But just how quickly Blanche’s nomination could advance remains in question. Asked Monday how swiftly he could move the nomination through his committee, Grassley wouldn’t say. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the committee, indic