Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, has aggressively moved to politicise the Department of Justice since taking over as acting attorney general earlier this month, according to reports. Blanche replaced Pam Bondi after Trump grew frustrated with the pace of prosecutions against his political enemies, and has been told to treat the role as an audition for the permanent position.
Within two weeks of his appointment, Blanche fired four career prosecutors and hired Trump ally Joe diGenova to oversee an investigation into former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova previously represented Trump's campaign in efforts to overturn the 2020 election and called for a former Homeland Security official to be 'drawn and quartered'. A DOJ official told Fox News that there has been increased pressure on matters involving Trump's enemies since Blanche took over.
Blanche has also sought to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack. Additionally, the DOJ filed an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging donor fraud—a move legal experts describe as 'flimsy'.
Critics say Blanche is intensifying the politicisation of the justice department. 'If the administration wants an attorney general that’s going to prevail in court, they’re not going to be able to find one,' said Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward. However, Trump ally Mike Davis praised Blanche's 'fantastic start', saying he is bringing 'much-needed accountability'.
