Todd Blanche faces opposition from 1,200 former DOJ staff

More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees have signed a letter urging the U.S. Senate to reject acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination. Organized by the alumni group Justice Connection, the letter accuses Blanche of "demonizing" and undermining the department’s apolitical career workforce, citing alleged vindictive prosecutions of President Trump’s opponents, the "erasure of accountability for January 6," mishandling of the Epstein files, and hundreds of unlawful firings. It notes that roughly 16,000 DOJ workers have left during his tenure, creating a "culture of fear" that the signatories say must end. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled Blanche’s confirmation hearing for the week of July 15.