Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche declined a request from NBC host Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” to pledge that the Justice Department (DOJ) would always act independently of the White House. He emphasized the need for the agency to execute lawful presidential policies.
“No, I’m not going to pledge that. And no attorney general should ever pledge that,” Blanche stated. He referred to President Donald Trump’s directive to combat violent crime as an example of lawful presidential guidance separate from political interference in individual cases.
Blanche’s rejection of a blanket pledge for DOJ independence underscores his position that coordination between the White House and DOJ is acceptable on policy matters not related to pending cases. The DOJ’s own rules allow this, ensuring enforcement decisions remain free from partisan or improper influence.
During his confirmation hearing, Blanche reiterated this stance when asked about DOJ’s independence from the White House. He noted, “The Department of Justice, like every single Department in the executive, is part of the executive.” He assured that unlawful or unethical directives would not be followed, maintaining that President Trump had never made such requests.
Emily Covington, director of DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, supported Blanche’s stance, emphasizing that DOJ’s focus should align with the policy goals of the elected president. Covington questioned if the department’s alignment with presidential priorities was unexpected.
Senate Republicans exhibited resistance to Blanche’s confirmation, partly due to concerns over the DOJ’s independence. Despite this, Blanche was confirmed by a 50-49 vote. He has since promised fair and impartial rule of law enforcement during his address to DOJ employees.
Blanche assured that he would consider Trump’s viewpoints on prosecutions but emphasized his commitment to integrity and independent decision-making. He dismissed concerns about the president directing prosecutions of specific individuals.
Opposition in the Senate arose regarding demands to retract a controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and to adjust IRS audit protections for Trump and his family. Notably, Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposed Blanche’s nomination alongside Senate Democrats.
In his first address as Attorney General, Blanche reassured DOJ staff of his leadership focus, “I promise you that I will lead this department with integrity,” he stated. “I promise you that I will focus on our core mission, which is to uphold the rule of law fairly and impartially.”
Leave a Reply