Attorney General Todd Blanche Speaks at GOP Rallies, Draws Scrutiny
Watchdog groups say Blanche’s rally speeches risk making the Justice Department look partisan, while officials say his appearances were personal and reviewed.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche attended a Wednesday rally in North Carolina for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, praising President Trump as the "greatest president of our generation," marking a departure from norms protecting the Justice Department from partisan bias.
- Attorneys general have historically avoided political rallies to maintain impartiality in prosecutions; Blanche rejected these norms, arguing he speaks in his personal capacity to thank law enforcement rather than endorse candidates.
- Following a Long Island event, the watchdog group Public Citizen filed a complaint alleging Blanche violated The Hatch Act by appearing alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Trump-endorsed Republican challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- The Justice Department said ethics officials review and clear Blanche's appearances, made in his personal capacity; spokesperson Kiersten Pels confirmed the speeches address administration efforts broadly without discussing official agency business.
- Merrick Garland previously barred political appointees from campaign events to ensure politics do not affect law enforcement, though Attorney General Pam Bondi later rescinded those restrictions after Attorney Rachael Rollins resigned following ethics concerns.
44 Articles
44 Articles
Santa Maria Times
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Justice Todd Blanche has devastated the traditional boundaries between policy and federal law enforcement by delivering speeches at recent political events that imply a marked departure from the...
The U.S. Attorney General participates in Republican events, generating debate on judicial independence and politics. A formal complaint alleges violation of the Hatch Law, questioning the prosecutor's role in campaigning.
Ethics expert flags Todd Blanche's 'lockstep' misstep: 'Incredible break with tradition'
The Justice Department's former top ethics official is outraged over Attorney General Todd Blanche's growing presence on the campaign trail.Joseph Tirrell, who was pushed out as ethics czar by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, told NBC News that Blanche's appearances at Republican campaign events reflects a fundamental change in how the department operates under President Donald Trump — adding that independence from the White House is no longer…
My Mother Lode
Attorney General Blanche’s appearances at political events blur Justice Department boundaries
Attorney General Todd Blanche is blurring traditional boundaries between politics and federal law enforcement with speeches at political events that depart from longstanding norms meant to protect the Justice Department from the appearance of partisan bias. Blanche took the stage this week at an event for a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina days after speaking at the GOP midterm convention, where he praised President Donald Trump and…
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