Attorney General Todd Blanche Declines Pledge of DOJ Independence from White House
FlatRigor 5116 sources
The Story
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Sunday, August 16, that he would not pledge the Justice Department would always act independently of the White House. Blanche told NBC's "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker, "No, I'm not going to pledge that. And no attorney general should ever pledge that." He argued that pledging independence would mean refusing President Trump's directives, such as a request to go after every violent criminal in this country. Blanche affirmed that he and the Justice Department's prosecutors would act with integrity and prosecute without fear or any sort of favor. When asked if he would take President Trump's opinions into consideration on individual prosecution decisions, Blanche responded, yes, of course. He insisted that President Trump would never ask me to do something unethical or illegal, he never has, he never will, calling the idea a false narrative. Blanche was sworn in last Monday, August 10, and previously served as President Trump's personal defense attorney. President Trump has reshaped the DOJ, ousting long-time staffers and installing his former lawyer as attorney general. Blanche also expressed support for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, despite President Trump's recent criticism of her. President Trump's frustration with Pirro stemmed from what happened in that case, according to Blanche.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Sunday, August 16, that he would not pledge the Justice Department would always act independently of the White House.
- Blanche argued that no attorney general should make such a pledge, as it would imply refusing presidential directives.
- He affirmed that he would consider President Trump's views on individual prosecution decisions.
- Blanche, who previously served as President Trump's personal defense attorney, was sworn in as Attorney General last Monday, August 10.
Where they split
- The Washington Post, The Spokesman-Review, and The Providence Journal directly quote Blanche's refusal to pledge independence in their headlines.
- Twitchy and RedState frame the interview as Blanche handling himself well against NBC host Kristen Welker, with commenters suggesting the DOJ is part of the executive branch.
- HuffPost uses headlines like "Todd Blanche Gets Heated After NBC Host Points Out His Jan. 6 Hypocrisy" and "Todd Blanche Dodges Vowing To Never Do Anything ‘Illegal’ For Trump," focusing on the confrontational aspects of the interview.
- Axios and Forbes emphasize Blanche's statement that President Trump's views can factor into prosecutions and his refusal to pledge independence.
Source Perspectives
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