WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Monday nominated his former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, as US attorney general on a permanent basis, setting up a potential confirmation battle with the Senate.

Blanche, 51, has been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi departed in April. Since then, he has pursued a number of indictments against Trump’s political enemies.

The former Justice Department number two also controversially defended a $1.8 billion “slush fund” to compensate Trump’s political allies, which the administration has since dropped.