Todd Blanche Refuses to Pledge DOJ Independence From White House

Attorney General Todd Blanche has refused to pledge that the Justice Department will act completely independently of the White House, stating that no attorney general should make such a commitment. During an NBC interview, Blanche argued that presidents are entitled to communicate priorities to the Justice Department, and he would consider President Trump's views when making decisions.

This stance comes after Blanche's contentious Senate confirmation, which raised concerns about the department's independence. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, watchdog groups, and two Republican senators, argued that Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal defense lawyer, was too closely tied to the president to serve as the nation's top law-enforcement official.

Blanche clarified that he would take the president's view into account on individual prosecution decisions, but denied any scenario where Trump would instruct him to act unethically or illegally. He also indicated that the Justice Department might pursue its controversial effort to obtain voter registration data from states for potential Supreme Court action.