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Attorney General Todd Blanche declines to pledge DOJ independence FAST-MOVING
Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche has declined to pledge that the Department of Justice will act independently of the White House. In his first major interview on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Blanche stated that no Attorney General should make such a pledge and indicated he would take President Donald Trump’s views into consideration on legal matters, including the potential revival of abandoned prosecutions.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s criminal defense attorney, defended his position by asserting he will act with integrity and that the president would never ask him to cross ethical or legal boundaries. He dismissed media narratives suggesting the administration would use the DOJ for political purposes as a ‘false narrative.’
His comments follow a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation vote. Legal experts and scholars have criticized the stance, with some characterizing it as a departure from post-Watergate norms. Additionally, Blanche defended U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop a vandalism case involving the Reflecting Pool, supporting her actions despite expressed frustrations from the president.
Entities
Aquilino Gonell · Department of Justice · Donald Trump · Jeanine Pirro · Joyce Vance · Kristen Welker · Pam Bondi · Todd Blanche · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Blanche expressed support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro regarding her decision to drop vandalism charges against David Hearn. www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a 50-49 vote. www.theguardian.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Law professor Barb McQuade characterized Blanche's position as turning the DOJ into a private law firm for the president. www.theguardian.com · uk.news.yahoo.com
- [DISPUTED] Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to pledge that the Department of Justice will act independently of the White House. bitcoinethereumnews.com · www.theguardian.com · www.breitbart.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Blanche confirmed he would take the president's views into consideration regarding legal matters, such as reviving abandoned prosecutions. www.breitbart.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 5 SOURCES] Blanche asserted that President Trump would never ask him to perform an unethical or illegal act. bitcoinethereumnews.com · www.theguardian.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.wnd.com
- [DISPUTED] Blanche pledged that the Department of Justice would act with integrity and prosecute without fear or favor. bitcoinethereumnews.com · www.wnd.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Blanche expressed support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's decision to drop vandalism charges against David Hearn. www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a 50-49 vote, with all Democrats voting against him. www.theguardian.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Blanche asserted that President Trump would never request that he perform an unethical or illegal act. bitcoinethereumnews.com · www.theguardian.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · www.wnd.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General with a 50-49 vote. www.theguardian.com · www.timesnownews.com · uk.news.yahoo.com