Attorney General Todd Blanche Faces Hatch Act Complaint Over GOP Events

Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing scrutiny for repeatedly participating in partisan Republican campaign events and making political statements ahead of the midterm elections. Since his confirmation last month, Blanche has delivered remarks at a GOP midterm convention in Dallas, attended a rally for Senate nominee Michael Whatley in North Carolina, and appeared at an event on Long Island. During these appearances, he praised President Donald Trump as the greatest president of his generation and promoted the administration's tough-on-crime policies.

The watchdog group Public Citizen has filed a complaint alleging that Blanche violated the Hatch Act, which limits political activity by government workers. Critics, including former Justice Department ethics official Joseph Tirrell, argue these actions dismantle post-Watergate norms intended to preserve the institutional credibility and impartiality of the Justice Department.

The United States Department of Justice has defended the legality of these appearances, stating that Blanche is participating in a personal capacity and not discussing official agency business. Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels noted that his activities are reviewed and cleared by ethics officials. This shift follows a policy change by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who rescinded a 2022 ban on political activities for appointees, and the replacement of career ethics officials with political appointees.