AG Todd Blanche Refuses to Pledge DOJ Independence From White House

Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to pledge that the Department of Justice would act independently from the White House, asserting during a television interview that no attorney general should ever make such a commitment. According to reporting from Yahoo and Newsweek, Blanche stated on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he would take President Donald Trump’s views into consideration when making decisions, while insisting that the president would never ask him to cross an ethical or legal boundary.

During the interview with host Kristen Welker, Blanche addressed questions regarding the traditional distance between the executive branch and federal law enforcement. When Welker asked if he could pledge that the Justice Department would always act independently of the White House, Blanche answered directly, according to Yahoo and Newsweek.

There’s a big difference between saying ‘we will always do our job and investigate any case and act independently of the White House’—no, I’m not going to pledge that, and no attorney general should ever pledge that.

Todd Blanche

Blanche argued that a president is entitled to communicate priorities to the department, noting that he would incorporate the president’s perspective into his considerations, a practice he suggested every attorney general in history would not answer that question differently. He rejected the idea that the administration dictates individual prosecutions, calling that notion a false narrative. As reported by Newsweek, Blanche stated that the president does not wake up and call him to direct specific criminal charges, adding that Trump has never done so and never will.

Confirmation Battle and DOJ Independence Concerns

The attorney general’s remarks follow a contentious confirmation battle in the Senate, where his nomination narrowly passed in a 50-49 vote, according to Newsweek. Senators and outside watchdog groups raised alarms over Blanche’s previous role as Trump’s personal defense attorney, questioning whether he could maintain institutional separation from the White House.

Opposition to the nomination included votes from two Republican lawmakers, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. According to Newsweek, Collins argued that Blanche had taken actions that eroded the department’s independence, while Murkowski expressed a lack of confidence that he would check the administration’s impulses. Schumer stated that confirming the president’s former lawyer compromised the agency’s ability to combat corruption impartially.

To secure the necessary support during the confirmation process, Blanche provided assurances to fence-sitting Republican senators, including John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, regarding a controversial federal proposal. According to Yahoo, Blanche reiterated that a proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” is dead. The proposed fund had been discussed following the dismissal of a lawsuit against the IRS and would have compensated individuals who claimed unfair targeting by the Justice Department, including Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants. Blanche confirmed that no money went from the Treasury to any account and no commissioners were established.

Federal Tort Claims and Ongoing Prosecutions

While shutting down the anti-weaponization fund, Blanche declined to guarantee that Jan. 6 rioters would not receive any compensation through standard legal channels. According to Yahoo, he noted that anyone permitted to sue the federal government over an alleged tort—such as slipping on ice at a post office—maintains the right to seek compensation through existing administrative and legal processes. However, Yahoo noted that the Justice Department previously argued earlier in the month that federal tort claims filed by former Jan. 6 defendants were barred because they missed the two-year statute of limitations in January 2023.

Blanche also addressed the dropping of property destruction charges against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. While U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office blamed the damage on a flawed installation process, President Trump expressed intense frustration over the case and contradicted those findings by blaming vandalism. Blanche stated on “Meet the Press” that he supported Pirro while acknowledging the president’s frustration, according to Yahoo.