Who Is Todd Blanche? Trump's Newest Attorney
- Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor with experience in white-collar defense cases, has been chosen by Donald Trump as lead counsel in his indictment trial.
- Blanche previously represented Trump ally Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman, an associate of former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
- Blanche recently worked as a partner at law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. His profile had been removed from the firm's website as of Monday afternoon.
- Politico reported that it obtained an email from Blanche in which he resigned from the firm in order to represent Trump.
Former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche told Newsweek Monday that he has been chosen by Donald Trump to be lead counsel in the former president's indictment trial.
Last Thursday, Trump became the first former or current president in U.S. history to face criminal charges after a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict him in connection with an alleged hush money payment made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump denies any wrongdoing in the case, including Daniel's claim that they had an affair, and is expected to enter a plea of not guilty at his arraignment, which is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Blanche, who is well experienced in white-collar defense cases, has ties to other Trump-related matters. He previously represented Paul Manafort, a former Trump campaign chairman who was sentenced to prison for various financial crimes. Blanche also represented Igor Fruman, an associate of former Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Fruman pleaded guilty in a campaign finance case.
Blanche recently worked as a partner at law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, but it appeared that his profile had been removed from the firm's website as of Monday afternoon.
On a LinkedIn page believed to be Blanche's, he lists his most recent experience as founding partner at Blanche Law. The firm was founded just this month. He also lists his past experience at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where he worked from September 2017 to April 2023. Blanche earned his doctor of law degree from Brooklyn Law School, where he graduated cum laude in 2003. He earned his bachelor's from American University.
Politico reported that it had obtained an email from Blanche in which he resigned from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, saying, "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."
Newsweek reached out to a Trump campaign spokesperson by email for comment.
Law experts have told Newsweek that Trump wouldn't be required to change his legal team for the trial unless there is a conflict of interest.
Dave Aronberg, a Palm Beach County, Florida, state attorney, said a possible former attorney-client relationship between Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina and Daniels could lead a judge to rule that Trump's legal team represents a conflict of interest.
Aronberg told Newsweek that if Trump did choose new legal representation, he would search for someone he was comfortable with to represent him at the trial.
"Trump wants someone who will do as he says," Aronberg said.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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