Trump names Todd Blanche acting librarian of Congress
a year ago
- #Trump Administration
- #Copyright Law
- #Library of Congress
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in his hush money trial, is named acting Librarian of Congress.
- Two other Trump appointees attempted to enter the Copyright Office but were unable to gain access without proper badges.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated lawmakers are investigating Trump's authority to fire the Librarian of Congress, a legislative branch employee.
- Concerns raised about potential improper data transfer from the Library of Congress to the executive branch under Trump-appointed officials.
- Former Librarian Carla Hayden and Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter were fired, sparking criticism from Democrats and cultural figures.
- Perlmutter's pre-publication report questioned the legality of tech companies using copyrighted works to train AI systems, stirring debate.
- Blanche's appointment and the firings are seen as part of Trump's broader effort to replace officials opposed to his agenda.