Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Sunday that he would not commit to acting entirely independently of the White House, a stance that has drawn scrutiny from critics concerned about the Justice Department’s alignment with President Donald Trump’s political agenda. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Blanche told host Kristen Welker, “No, I’m not going to pledge that, and no attorney general should ever pledge that.” He maintained that the President has never asked him to violate legal or ethical boundaries and emphasized that the Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting cases without fear or favor.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney and was confirmed by the Senate last weekend after holding the role in an acting capacity since April, suggested that he would consider the President’s perspective on specific prosecutions. When questioned about whether the President should have a voice in such matters—particularly regarding the recently dismissed Reflecting Pool vandalism case—Blanche responded, “Every American has a voice in prosecutions… So whether President Trump should have a, quote, voice, it depends, but yes.” He added that he believes any attorney general in history would similarly take the President’s views into account.
Despite these comments, Blanche insisted during interviews on both “Meet the Press” and “Fox News Sunday” that he retains the ability to disagree with the President. He noted that Trump values candid feedback, stating, “The president loves disagreement.” According to Blanche, the President expects honest counsel from his leaders, and receiving that counsel does not equate to blind agreement. He dismissed the notion that the President frequently intervenes in specific prosecutions, calling it a “misnomer” that Trump calls him to demand the prosecution of specific individuals.
Regarding the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, which has been a point of contention, Blanche expressed support for US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, noting that the President also supports her despite his frustration with the case’s outcome. He defended Pirro’s performance, arguing that it is unfair to judge her tenure based on a single case. Meanwhile, on the issue of election integrity—a key focus for the administration—Blanche indicated that the government might appeal to the Supreme Court in its ongoing efforts to obtain unredacted voter rolls from various states.
The administration has faced legal setbacks in its attempts to access voter information from approximately 30 states, a campaign rooted in the President’s unsubstantiated claims regarding the 2020 election. When asked if he would pursue these losses to the Supreme Court, Blanche confirmed, “Absolutely, it’s a possibility.” He framed the initiative as a fulfillment of a campaign promise, asserting that election security is a matter of national importance that every American should prioritize.
Blanche also addressed the status of the “anti-weaponization” fund, which had previously threatened his confirmation process. He confirmed that the fund is officially “dead,” though he noted that established legal processes remain available for individuals seeking compensation for government misconduct. He declined to rule out the possibility that individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, events could file such claims, stating that the standard process for seeking redress for torts committed by the federal government has been in place for decades.
The Justice Department has faced ongoing criticism regarding its handling of investigations into political figures, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Amid these concerns, the department formally rescinded the controversial fund that would have provided financial support to those claiming mistreatment by federal authorities. Blanche reiterated that he would not comment on whether any potential future litigation would result in financial settlements, emphasizing that he cannot speculate on the outcomes of legal claims on a news program. The report also notes that it doesn’t mean you’re saying yes to him,” Blanche said, adding that Trump would “expect” him to tell him his honest feelings, even if the attorney general disagreed. The report also notes that trump has demanded states turn over unredacted voter rolls and other sensitive information — part of the administration’s efforts to insert itself in federal elections that was fueled by Trump’s longstanding and baseless. The report also notes that but has frequently lost in court, the administration has sued roughly 30 states that have refused to open their voter rolls to administration scrutiny. The report also notes that “He wants to get counsel from all of his leaders that is just that – counsel. The report also notes that and I don’t in any way fault him for that.”, now that’s different than whether the president is extraordinarily frustrated at what happened in that case. The report also notes that saying she’s “doing a phenomenal job,” adding, “and I think judging her on a single case because of the evidence that we had is not fair.”, but Blanche also defended Pirro.