Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has forcefully rejected former President Barack Obama's concerns that the Justice Department under President Donald Trump is targeting his political adversaries. In an interview with CBS News, Blanche labeled the allegations as 'simply false,' pushing back against criticism from the former Democratic president.
Obama's Comments on The Late Show
During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Obama expressed unease about the direction of the Justice Department under Trump's second term. 'The White House shouldn't be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants to prosecute,' Obama told Colbert. His remarks came amid a series of high-profile indictments targeting individuals perceived as Trump's enemies, most notably the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
Blanche's Defense of DOJ Actions
Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer, responded directly to Obama's thinly veiled criticism. He cited Article Two of the U.S. Constitution, which vests executive power in the president. 'It does not say that the Attorney General stands off to the side,' Blanche argued. He added that if President Trump calls to discuss national problems like drugs or illegal immigration, 'every American wants him to do that, and he should.'
The Comey Indictment
The Justice Department announced late last month that a federal grand jury in North Carolina had indicted Comey for allegedly making threats to harm Trump. The indictment centers on a photo Comey posted on social media in May 2025, showing seashells on a beach arranged to read '86 47.' The number 86 is slang for getting rid of something, while 47 is presumed to refer to Trump as the 47th president. Comey has denied the allegations, stating in a Substack video, 'I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let's go.'
Blanche on Local Prosecution
Blanche insisted that the Comey case was led by local prosecutors, claiming, 'I don't even know their names.' He emphasized that the Justice Department is not engaged in political retribution, despite Obama's warnings. Obama, a frequent critic of Trump, cautioned that America 'can't overcome the politicization of our justice system' and that 'you can't have a situation in which whoever is in charge of the government starts using that to go after their political enemies or reward their friends.'
