Acting AG Blanche Defends Trump's 'Right' and 'Duty' to Investigate Political Foes
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has firmly rejected allegations that the Department of Justice is being used to target Donald Trump's political enemies. In his first public briefing since taking over from the fired Pam Bondi, Blanche argued that the president possesses both a 'right' and 'duty' to investigate and prosecute his foes.
Blanche Dismisses Pressure from White House Demands
Blanche, who previously served as Trump's criminal defense attorney, was appointed as deputy attorney general last year before stepping into the interim role. When questioned about balancing Trump's calls for politically charged prosecutions with ending the perceived 'weaponization' of the Justice Department, he did not challenge the premise.
'We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country, and it is true that some of them involve men, women and entities that the president in the past has issues with and he believes should be investigated,' Blanche stated on Tuesday.
He elaborated, 'That is his right and indeed it is his duty to do that — meaning, to lead this country. I do not view this as pressure. I do not view this as something that keeps me up at night.'
Defending DOJ Personnel Changes and Rejecting a 'Firewall'
Blanche also justified recent personnel shifts within the DOJ, including the removal of dozens of career prosecutors and federal agents involved in investigations against Trump. 'If you were a prosecutor, and you were trying to prosecute your boss, you have ethical duties as a lawyer that I think prevent you from continuing to work in that environment,' he explained.
He emphasized that past actions by prosecutors were unacceptable, vowing, 'What happened the last four years is something that will never happen again.' Furthermore, Blanche expressed willingness to consider criminal referrals directly from the White House, stating he would investigate such cases if presented.
He outright dismissed the notion of a 'firewall' between the DOJ and the White House, calling it 'the most false statement I have ever heard in my life.' Blanche argued, 'There is always communication between a president and his priorities and what the Department of Justice should be focused on and not focused on. That is not a new thing in this administration.'
Background and Context of Blanche's Role
Blanche is among several former personal attorneys to Trump who have assumed key administrative positions, often tasked with unwinding federal investigations that once targeted the president. His legal background includes serving as lead defense counsel in Trump's 2024 hush money trial in New York and participating in teams defending against two federal indictments.
Despite Blanche's robust defense, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a scheme to influence the 2016 election by concealing stories about alleged affairs. Although Trump avoided a criminal penalty, he remains a convicted felon, underscoring the contentious legal landscape Blanche now navigates.
