The Trump administration announced Monday that it was replacing longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden — fired last week for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — with Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, Todd Blanche.
Blanche is currently second-in-command at the Department of Justice, and will also serve as acting Librarian of Congress, according to Politico. He famously defended Trump in his 2023 "hush money" case in which the then-former president was convicted on 34 felony counts. Trump was sentenced to an "unconditional discharge" with no penalties, fines, or jail time that would interfere with his ability to serve a second term as president.
Blanche also represented Trump in his federal criminal case involving Trump's alleged concealing of classified documents. The case was ultimately dismissed after a motion was filed by special counsel Jack Smith.
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Daniel Schuman, executive director of the American Governance Institute, "a non-profit organization focused on strengthening the institutions of American government," was appalled by the pick, posting to X, "Todd Blanche, the DOJ #2, is now acting Librarian of Congress. This is unconstitutional, illegal, and a wholesale overthrow of Congressional sovereignty."
CBS News's Weijia Jiang reported on the Congressional controversy, posting to X that "two others who Trump named as LOC officials were escorted off the premises because the WH doesn’t have jurisdiction over the legislative branch. Blanche has not tried to report for work there yet."
Politico's Mike DeBonis who posted to X that the Blanche appointment isn't set in stone: "Current LoC chief tells employees that Todd Blanche takeover is not final: 'we have not received direction from Congress about how to move forward.'"
Hayden was nominated to a 10-year term by former President Barack Obama, and was in her ninth year at the world's largest library that houses more than 173 million books, films, and other historically important items. According to her biography, Hayden was the first woman and first African American to lead the library.
Critics were furious when she was fired via a two-sentence email. One called her an "American hero."
X account "DC Boy," who has 26,000 followers, posted, "Todd Blanche, now Deputy Attorney General, replaces the first woman and Black American in the position. Every passing day makes it obvious that the DEI purge has nothing to do with DEI."