Attorney General Blanche Refuses to Pledge DOJ Independence From Trump

Attorney General Todd Blanche on August 16 refused to pledge that the Justice Department would always act independently of the White House, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that he would take President Trump’s views into account on prosecution decisions. Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in a 50-49 vote, said no attorney general should make such a commitment and that Trump would never ask him to cross an ethical or legal line.

What Blanche said about DOJ independence

When asked directly if he could pledge the Justice Department would always act independently of the White House, Blanche answered: ‘No, I’m not going to pledge that. And no attorney general should ever pledge that.’ He argued that a president is entitled to communicate priorities to the DOJ. Blanche went further when pressed on whether Trump should have a role in individual prosecution decisions. ‘Will I take the president of the United States’ view on something into consideration? Yes, of course,’ Blanche said on the NBC program.

How Blanche defended his position

Blanche claimed Trump would never ask him to do something unethical or illegal. ‘He never has. He never will,’ Blanche told host Kristen Welker. He argued there was a difference between promising the DOJ would always investigate independently and carrying out its legal responsibilities. Blanche said he swore to the Constitution like every cabinet secretary and attorney general before him. He dismissed criticism as a ‘false narrative’ pushed by the left and media.

The confirmation battle and anti-weaponization fund

Blanche was confirmed only after securing assurances from key Republican senators that he would not revive the controversial $1.776 billion ‘anti-weaponization fund,’ which would have compensated people claiming unfair targeting by the Justice Department, including January 6 Capitol rioters. On Sunday, Blanche reiterated: ‘I’ve said repeatedly, it’s dead. There is no fund, no money went from the Treasury to any account.’ However, he refused to guarantee that January 6 rioters would not receive compensation through other legal processes, saying ‘anybody who sues the federal government could get paid.’

Concerns about DOJ independence since Watergate

The Justice Department has generally maintained distance from the White House in criminal investigations since the Watergate scandal prompted President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Under Trump, the DOJ has faced accusations of political dealing on Trump’s behalf, including indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. University of Michigan law professor Barb McQuade called Blanche’s position ‘an appalling departure’ from the DOJ’s post-Watergate mission. Blanche has also defended Trump’s frustration over US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn for alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying he supported Pirro while acknowledging potential vandalism occurred.

Final Thoughts

Blanche’s refusal to pledge DOJ independence marks a sharp departure from decades of post-Watergate practice and signals the Justice Department will operate as an extension of the Trump administration’s priorities. Investors and citizens should monitor whether this erodes the rule of law and creates legal or political risks for the administration.

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