President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had selected Todd Blanche, his defence attorney during his legal battles, to serve as deputy attorney general in his upcoming administration.

Mr Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, praising Mr Blanche’s legal expertise and role in reshaping the U.S. Justice Department.

In his statement, Mr Trump described Mr Blanche as “an excellent attorney” who would play a key role in fixing what he called a “broken system of justice.”

The president-elect highlighted Mr Blanche’s impressive career, including his work as a prosecutor at the Southern District of New York (SDNY), where he took on cases involving gang activity and other significant federal crimes.

Additionally, Mr Trump noted that Mr Blanche had clerked for two federal judges and graduated with honours from law school while working full-time at SDNY.

Mr Blanche’s selection marks another significant move in Mr Trump’s reshaping of key government positions ahead of his return to the White House.

Having served as Mr Trump’s defence lawyer through multiple high-profile legal challenges, including those related to the special counsel’s investigation, Mr Blanche is well-acquainted with the intricacies of federal law and the challenges facing the Justice Department.

Mr Blanche has built a solid reputation in the legal community and is known for his work as a prosecutor and defence attorney.

Prior to his time with Mr Trump, Mr Blanche made his mark as a seasoned prosecutor at the Southern District of New York, one of the nation’s most prestigious U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

He played a critical role in prosecuting high-profile cases involving organised crime, corruption, and financial crimes.

With this new appointment, Mr Blanche is set to take on a prominent role in the Justice Department, overseeing federal law enforcement policies and working to implement Trump’s vision for reform.