Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday he would not pledge that the Justice Department always operates independently of the White House, arguing that President Donald Trump's views deserve consideration. Blanche insisted federal prosecutions would proceed "without fear or any sort of favor," despite rejecting calls to insulate law-enforcement decisions from political influence.

Blanche Rejects Pledge Of DOJ Independence

Blanche told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would take the president's view on matters into consideration. When asked to pledge DOJ independence, he replied, "No, I'm not going to pledge that."

This position contrasts with post-Watergate norms designed to insulate enforcement decisions from political influence. The DOJ's Justice Manual states that safeguards governing White House contacts protect criminal and civil enforcement decisions from "partisan or other inappropriate influences."

Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal-defense lawyer, was sworn in last week following a 50-49 Senate confirmation. Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in opposing him over DOJ independence concerns, while Senator Bill Cassidy supplied a decisive vote.

Blanche Says Trump Would Respect Legal Limits

Blanche rejected suggestions that Trump would pressure him to cross legal lines. "The president will never ask me to do something unethical or illegal," he said. He described the idea that Trump would demand illegal action as "completely a false narrative" and stated it "will not happen, and hasn't happened."

His confirmation fight intensified over Trump's proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Blanche formally rescinded the proposal before the Senate vote after negotiations with Republican holdouts. "I've said repeatedly it's dead. And he has also said it's dead," Blanche said. "There is no fund."

Pirro Dispute Tests Blanche’s Independence Argument

Blanche defended U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after Trump criticized her decision to drop a Reflecting Pool vandalism case. Trump had urged Pirro to revisit the "hastily made" decision. "I absolutely support U.S. Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump," Blanche said, acknowledging Trump's frustration.

The episode offered an early test of Blanche's argument that presidential input need not dictate prosecutorial outcomes. In his first address to DOJ employees, Blanche promised to uphold the rule of law "without fear or favor" and encouraged internal disagreement.

Benzinga reached out to the White House for a statement on Blanche's interview comments but did not receive an immediate response.

Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog (GLOW) condemned the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General of the United States on Aug. 8, 2026, following a 50-49 vote. The nonprofit watchdog criticized the confirmation despite a United States District Judge finding that Blanche abdicated his duty to defend the nation and characterizing his sworn testimony to Congress as "at best, misleading, and at worst, disingenuous." The judge ordered these findings forwarded to the New York State Bar, which licenses Blanche.

GLOW President Omri Marian stated that the Senate confirmed a lawyer whose conduct is under bar regulator review for placing former client interests above those of the United States. Marian noted that Blanche signed away $1.776 billion in public funds to an "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and issued an immunity order for Donald Trump, his sons, and their businesses. This immunity order remains in force despite Blanche's eleventh-hour rescission of the weaponization fund, which Marian described as a concession in form only.

The controversy centers on the case Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, where President Trump sued an agency he controls. Under Blanche's leadership, the Department of Justice (DOJ) did not enter an appearance, raise statute-of-limitations defenses, or file pleadings. Instead, Blanche signed a settlement committing $1.776 billion to the fund and issued an order immunizing Trump's family from IRS audits. Judge Kathleen M. Williams found this provision contravened 26 U.S.C. § 7217, which prohibits executive branch interference with taxpayer audits. On July 13, 2026, the court ruled the proceeding was pursued in bad faith to advance a political narrative.

GLOW also highlighted Blanche's handling of the Renée Good investigation. After ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Good on Jan. 7, 2026, Blanche declared there was no basis for a federal investigation, despite the FBI having already opened one. Reporting indicates Blanche's aides directed prosecutors to close the case and instead sought a warrant against Good. Six Civil Rights Division attorneys, six career prosecutors in Minnesota, and the FBI agent in charge resigned rather than participate. Blanche subsequently accused protesters of insurrection and threatened Minnesota officials.

Personnel Actions and Judicial Relations

Blanche took disciplinary action against attorneys who contradicted administration directives. He placed DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni on leave and later fired him after Reuveni truthfully told a court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation was an error. Blanche fired Elizabeth Oyer, the United States Pardon Attorney, for refusing to restore gun ownership rights to an individual with a domestic violence history without further investigation. Blanche accused Oyer of lying about her termination and sent armed deputies to her home with a threat letter regarding her planned congressional testimony.

In November 2025, Blanche told a Federalist Society audience that there is a "war" against the federal judiciary. When the New York State Bar Association denounced these remarks and reminded him that abandoning the constitutional oath subjects lawyers to discipline, Blanche responded with "LOL." Fifty former federal judges called his remarks a grave threat to the rule of law.

Senate Confirmation Details

Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis spent weeks insisting that the anti-weaponization fund and immunity grants were disqualifying. They accepted an unsigned Department statement purporting to narrow the immunity order and an order rescinding the May 18 fund authorization. GLOW noted that Tillis is retiring and Cornyn lost his primary, leaving them free to vote their conscience. Instead, they voted to confirm Blanche based on promises he alone can revoke. Marian stated that every senator who voted yes did so with the court's order in front of them.

GLOW honored government attorneys who refused to comply with directives it deemed unlawful, including Brian Morrissey, former Treasury General Counsel, who resigned when the Trump v. IRS settlement was announced. The organization maintains a Government Lawyers Database documenting these events.