Trump nominates former personal attorney Todd Branch as U.S. attorney general

Trump said at a dinner at the White House that he planned to formally nominate Branch on Thursday, according to a video of the event posted by White House aides on social media.

“We’re going to make him our permanent attorney general,” Trump said at the Rose Garden event.

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After Pam Bondi was fired in April, Branch quickly sought to position herself as the favorite for the permanent job, speeding up investigations of Trump foes and announcing Nearly $1.8 billion in funds Designed to compensate the president’s allies for an alleged witch hunt. The proposed fund sparked fierce bipartisan debate, forcing the Justice Department to give up this idea An extraordinary turn of events occurred earlier this week.

Branch was named deputy attorney general and was promoted after Bondi was ousted for failing to prosecute Trump’s political opponents. Branch insists he is not auditioning for the permanent position, but he has made clear through a series of high-profile moves since taking office that he intends to prove his loyalty to Trump.

Branch’s actions have angered Democrats and other critics, who accuse him of still acting as Trump’s personal attorney to carry out the president’s retaliatory campaign. The $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” has also drawn strong opposition from Senate Republicans, whose support Branch now needs to be confirmed as attorney general.

Although Branch insists he feels no pressure from the president, the Justice Department under his leadership has stepped up its pursuit of Trump’s longtime foes. Branch has strongly denied accusations that the Trump administration politicized the Justice Department and said he is focused on correcting what he sees as past abuses by the Biden administration.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in April on suspicion of social media photos Shells line the beach and officials say they pose a threat to the president. Comey blasted the case as politically motivated and said he would not be surprised if the Justice Department filed more indictments against him.

Branch singled out Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan administration, to oversee a Florida investigation into whether Former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired The past decade has weakened Trump.

He came under intense scrutiny last month for his proposed “anti-weaponization fund,” which the administration said would be aimed at compensating those who believe they were unfairly investigated and prosecuted under past administrations. The fund has sparked outrage because violent criminals involved in the operation could be Riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 Payment could be considered — a possibility Branch declined to rule out publicly.

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Branch told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Justice Department would not move forward with the plan after political backlash stalled legislation to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agency.

Branch, a former federal prosecutor in New York, came to public attention for his leadership role on Trump’s defense team, including during his defense. Republicans hold hush money trial in New York. He said the position allowed him to witness firsthand what he said was the weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump.