WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two days before Todd Blanche appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee, opposition to his nomination for Attorney General has spread across the political spectrum. Conservative legal institutions, nonpartisan bar associations, over a thousand former Justice Department officials from both parties, and career prosecutors have reached the same conclusion: Blanche is unfit to lead the department he’s run in an acting capacity since April.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Conservative Legal Voices
National Review’s editorial board rejected the nomination, writing that Blanche’s tenure has shown him to be “an instrument of Trump’s unworthy and abusive campaign to investigate and prosecute his political opponents.” The board concluded that the Senate cannot lend its “imprimatur to Blanche’s dubious handiwork as Trump’s ideal AG.”
The Society for the Rule of Law, a conservative legal group, formally urged senators to reject the nomination. The group cited Blanche’s “troubling disregard for fundamental rule of law principles,” including his declared “war” on the independent judiciary.
Nonpartisan Legal Establishment
The New York City Bar Association condemned Blanche’s declaration of “war” on federal judges, calling it a serious threat at a time when violence against judges has reached unprecedented levels. The association noted that judges appointed by presidents of both parties have rebuked the administration’s attempts to defy or ignore the law.
Bipartisan Former DOJ Officials
Justice Connection, representing over 1,200 former DOJ employees from 14 administrations, sent senators a letter signed by representatives from 77 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and members of both political parties. The letter states that Blanche has fired or overseen the firing of career employees “usually without notice, and for improper, unlawful reasons.”
Legal Advocacy Groups and Former Judges
Lawyers for Good Government Founder and Executive Director Traci Feit Love called Blanche the most compromised attorney general nominee in modern history. She argues he continues to act as Trump’s personal criminal attorney rather than impartially enforcing federal law.
Alliance for Justice published a full opposition report arguing Blanche has spent his career “politicizing government, standing in the way of justice for victims, and carrying out Trump’s bidding.”
101 former federal judges, joined by Democracy Defenders Fund and Lawyers Defending American Democracy, filed a 73-page ethics complaint against Blanche with New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee alleging specific professional-ethics violations.
Career Prosecutors and Legal Commentators
Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, described Blanche’s IRS settlement for Trump as “a pardon on steroids for Trump, Trump’s family, and Trump businesses.” She noted that Blanche wouldn’t confirm under oath that the anti-weaponization fund was dead, prompting a federal judge to demand a sworn statement.
Andrew Weissmann, former lead prosecutor on the Mueller investigation, framed the case against Blanche as two intertwined stories: one of corruption tied to his willingness to enable the president, and another of competence, with the slush fund as the latest example.
Barb McQuade, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, joined Stay Tuned with Preet for a live taping to discuss Trump’s mob-style tactics, the $1.8 billion “slush fund” for January 6 defendants, and threats to the rule of law, along with what it would take to restore public trust in the Justice Department.
Lindsey Granger, a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s “Rising,” gave Blanche’s tenure an “F” grade. She said the Senate Judiciary Committee’s job is to push the president to find a more qualified candidate.