Blanche Says Trump Will Never Seek Illegal Acts, Echoing Administration's 3-Part Defense
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · Aug 18
Blanche Says Trump Will Never Seek Illegal Acts, Echoing Administration's 3-Part Defense
3 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · Aug 18
Summary
Todd Blanche said on NBC that Trump has "never" asked him to do anything unethical or illegal and "never will," making the claim the clearest public statement yet of his deference to the president.
That phrasing mirrors a broader White House line: aides have recently said Trump and his family have never engaged in conflicts of interest and that Trump has never broken the law.
The report contrasts those assurances with episodes cited as evidence of pressure on the Justice Department, including Trump's mistaken public post urging charges against political targets and Blanche's own involvement in a dropped case over Reflecting Pool damage.
It also points to Trump's business entanglements and legal history — including his 2024 New York conviction for falsifying business records — to argue the administration is redefining scrutiny itself as illegitimate.
Set against first-term disputes with Jeff Sessions and William Barr, Blanche's remarks are presented as evidence that Trump's second term has shed earlier restraints on ethics, conflicts and Justice Department independence.
Will the Supreme Court ultimately decide if the federal government can mandate access to unredacted state voter databases?
The Politicization of the DOJ: How Todd Blanche’s Confirmation and the $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Signal a Historic Shift in Executive Power (2026)
Overview
President Trump, frustrated by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s lack of aggressive action against his political adversaries, fired her in April 2026. Todd Blanche then became acting Attorney General and soon approved a controversial $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' that would benefit January 6 rioters and grant Trump’s family immunity from IRS audits. Under pressure from key Republican senators, Blanche rescinded the fund, unlocking his narrow Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, the DOJ, under Trump’s direction, targeted political opponents, leading to mass resignations and firings. This series of events marked a dramatic shift toward a Justice Department closely aligned with the president’s personal and political interests.