Attorney General Todd Blanche Refuses to Promise DOJ Independence from White House
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Todd Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press he will not pledge that the Justice Department will always act independently of the White House and said President Trump would not ask him to break the law.
Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday that he would not pledge the Justice Department would always operate independently of the White House, adding that no attorney general should make such a vow. He also asserted that President Donald Trump would never request actions that cross ethical or legal lines, stating, "The president will never ask me to do something unethical or illegal. He never has. He never will."
Blanche, who was confirmed by a 50-49 Senate vote, previously served as Trump’s criminal defense lawyer and has faced criticism over his handling of high-profile cases, including the relocation of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and the administration of the so-called Epstein files. When asked about Trump’s pardons of more than 1,500 individuals convicted for the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Blanche said the president has the constitutional right to grant pardons and declined to comment on potential future settlements.
Legal scholars reacted to Blanche’s remarks on social media, with University of Michigan professor Barb McQuade describing his stance as a departure from the Justice Department’s post-Watergate mission. Blanche’s comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of his role in the department’s actions under the Trump administration.