Trump Picks Former Personal Lawyer as Attorney General

US President Donald Trump has announced he will nominate Todd Blanche, who has led the Justice Department on an interim basis since April, as permanent US attorney general. If confirmed by the Senate, Trump's former personal lawyer will become the country's top law enforcement official.

Trump made the announcement at a White House event and said he expected a swift confirmation process.

Blanche, 51, took over the department following the dismissal of Pam Bondi in the spring, after controversy over the release of documents related to the case of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the president's dissatisfaction with the department's handling of his political opponents.

During his brief tenure, Blanche drew criticism from several Republican senators and some White House officials. A plan to establish a $1.8bn fund for individuals the administration considers victims of alleged politically motivated abuses by state institutions proved particularly contentious and was eventually cancelled.

Blanche's nomination must clear the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority. He will need near-unanimous support from Republican lawmakers to be confirmed.

(reuters, max)