Attorney General Todd Blanche Refuses Independence Pledge

Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge that he would always act independently of White House control during interviews on Meet the Press and Fox News Sunday. Blanche argued that no attorney general should make such a pledge, though he maintained that the Justice Department would act independently of the White House in its investigations.

Blanche denied claims that President Donald Trump demands the prosecution of specific individuals, calling such notions an extraordinarily false narrative. The Attorney General, a former defense lawyer for Trump, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate after agreeing to limit a tax immunity agreement for the president and rescind a $1.8 billion compensation fund for purported victims of the Biden-era Justice Department.

In other developments, Blanche expressed public support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, despite reports that Trump was frustrated by Pirro's decision to drop charges in a vandalism case. Blanche also emphasized a law and order mandate, stating the Justice Department will prosecute anyone who inappropriately touches a federal law enforcement officer, while affirming the president's constitutional right to grant pardons.