Blanche refuses to say Justice Department will always act independently from Trump

Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that President Trump's views can influence individual prosecutions, rejecting the notion of absolute DOJ independence from the White House. Blanche made this assertion during his first week as the head of the Justice Department, following his confirmation by the Senate 50-49. He told NBC's Meet the Press that he would consider Trump's opinions before deciding on prosecutions, emphasizing that it is not the way it works.

The former president has made it clear that he wants certain individuals investigated and prosecuted, such as former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff. In September, Trump called for the prosecution of Comey and James, though their cases were later dismissed. This month, Trump instructed DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider a vandalism case she initially dropped, as the damage was attributed to flawed installation.

Blanche's comments come amid controversy over a Trump-IRS settlement that created an anti-weaponization fund, which he has since rescinded. Despite rescinding the fund, Blanche has indicated he would not rule out compensating January 6 defendants through the government's claims process.