Attorney General Blanche Refuses To Pledge DOJ Independence From Trump
On Sunday, August 16, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to pledge he would always act independently of President Trump and the White House on NBC's "Meet the Press." MS NOW
Blanche said "no attorney general should ever pledge" total independence and added that Trump has never asked him to do anything unethical or illegal.[1] He told the program Trump does not personally direct prosecutions and that he rescinded an order creating a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for alleged wrongful Biden-era prosecutions.[1] Blanche said any claimant, including January 6 defendants, can still sue the federal government for compensation, but he declined to predict outcomes.[1]
GOP senators had made a compensation fund a condition of Blanche's confirmation, a demand he had initially met by issuing the order.[1] After taking office he rescinded that order, leaving claimants to pursue suits against the federal government instead.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, August 16, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC's 'Meet the Press' he would not pledge to always act independently of President Trump and the White House.
- Blanche said 'no attorney general should ever pledge' total independence but claimed Trump has never asked him to do anything unethical or illegal and does not personally direct prosecutions.
- Blanche reiterated that he rescinded an order creating a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for alleged wrongful Biden-era prosecutions, a condition GOP senators set before his confirmation.
- He said any claimant, including January 6 defendants, can still sue the federal government for compensation but declined to predict outcomes.
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