Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that President Donald Trump does not personally direct prosecutions and expects his cabinet to disagree with him when necessary. Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, emphasized his commitment to acting with integrity and ordering prosecutors to do the same.
The statements by Attorney General Todd Blanche are significant as they address concerns about the independence of the Justice Department under his leadership, particularly given his prior role as President Trump's personal lawyer. His assertions aim to reassure the public and lawmakers about his commitment to legal integrity, even while acknowledging the president's potential input.
Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, has pushed back against concerns that he will blindly follow White House directives. In interviews on Sunday, Blanche stated that Trump does not personally dictate prosecutions and expects his cabinet to disagree with him when necessary.
Appearing on 'Fox News Sunday' and NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Blanche addressed bipartisan scrutiny following his confirmation, during which 49 senators voted against him. He asserted that the idea of Trump calling him daily to direct prosecutions is inaccurate. Blanche maintained that Trump would expect him to say 'no' if his legal opinion differed from the president's preference.
However, when pressed on 'Meet the Press,' Blanche declined to pledge that the Justice Department would 'always act independently' of the White House, stating no attorney general should make such a pledge. He did affirm that he would take Trump's opinion into consideration if the president believed a case should be pursued or revived, a stance he suggested any attorney general would hold.
Blanche insisted that Trump would 'never ask' him to do anything unethical or illegal, stating this has been his experience and expectation. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, however, referred to Blanche's Justice Department as a 'wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump cartel,' highlighting the ongoing challenge Blanche faces in delineating political priorities from legal responsibilities.