Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing fresh scrutiny after making a striking declaration about the relationship between the Justice Department and President Donald Trump.
During a Sunday appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Blanche was asked whether he would pledge that the Justice Department would always operate independently from the White House.
His answer immediately drew attention.
“No, I’m not going to pledge that,” Blanche said.
Blanche, who was sworn in as attorney general last week after a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation vote, argued that a president’s views should naturally be considered by the attorney general.
“Will I take the president of the United States’ view on something into consideration? Yes, of course,” Blanche said.
The comments come as Blanche begins his tenure leading a Justice Department already facing intense political scrutiny.
Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney before joining the administration. His close relationship with the president was a major issue during his Senate confirmation fight.
Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against his confirmation, while Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy provided the decisive vote.
Blanche insisted that considering Trump’s views does not mean the president can simply order prosecutors to pursue cases without regard to the law.
He said federal prosecutors would continue to act with integrity and without fear or favor.
The controversy intensified when Blanche was also asked about U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Pirro recently faced criticism from Trump after her office dismissed a vandalism case involving damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Trump expressed frustration with the decision, while Blanche publicly defended Pirro.
“I absolutely support US Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump,” Blanche said.
Blanche argued that judging Pirro based on a single case would be unfair and said the evidence available to prosecutors had to be considered.
The White House has also asked the Justice Department to examine whether another misdemeanor prosecution could be brought against the man involved in the Reflecting Pool case, according to Fox News.
The episode has placed Blanche in an unusual position.
On one hand, Trump has made clear that he expects his administration’s law-enforcement officials to pursue his priorities. On the other, Blanche has repeatedly emphasized that prosecutors must follow the law and act with integrity.
His refusal to make an absolute pledge of DOJ independence is therefore likely to remain a major point of debate in Washington.
The Justice Department’s relationship with the White House has become one of the most closely watched issues of Trump’s second administration, particularly as the department faces questions over political influence and prosecutorial priorities.
Blanche now has the difficult task of managing those tensions while carrying out his responsibilities as the nation’s top law-enforcement official.
For now, his answer has already triggered a new debate over just how independent the Justice Department should be from the president who appointed its leader.
