Attorney General Todd Blanche has explicitly rejected the concept of an independent Department of Justice, stating during an August 16 interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that he would consider President Donald Trump's perspective regarding legal prosecutions. When directly questioned on whether he would maintain independence from the White House, Blanche responded, "No, I’m not going to pledge that."
This stance marks a significant departure from the departmental norms established following the Watergate scandal, which prompted the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Since his return to the White House, President Trump has implemented extensive changes within the Justice Department, resulting in the termination of dozens of officials and the departure of thousands of lawyers.
Critics argue that these shifts have transformed the agency into a mechanism for targeting the President's political rivals.
Blanche, who served as an acting attorney general since April before being narrowly confirmed by the Senate, has consistently maintained that the Department of Justice functions under executive authority. In congressional testimony provided in May, the former personal attorney for Trump noted that the department takes policy direction "from the president." He emphasized in written confirmation documents that the Department of Justice is a component of the Executive branch.
The President has frequently utilized social media to advocate for specific prosecutions. Most recently, Trump suggested that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should reconsider her decision to drop a case against an Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
While Blanche expressed support for Pirro during his interview, he acknowledged that the President is "extraordinarily frustrated" by the case, adding that he does not fault Trump for that frustration, though the ultimate decision rested on the availability of proof.
Pirro’s office previously concluded that contractors, rather than vandals, caused the pool's deterioration.
Additionally, in a September 2025 social media post, Trump called for the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Following that post, the Department of Justice initiated two cases against Comey. One case involving charges of lying to Congress was dismissed after a judge ruled the prosecutor, former Trump attorney Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed—a ruling the DOJ is currently appealing.
A second case against Comey, involving a social media image of seashells, remains pending after Comey requested its dismissal in July. Similarly, a bank fraud charge against Letitia James was dismissed under the Halligan ruling, and subsequent attempts to reindict her before two Virginia grand juries were unsuccessful.
"They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done," the post read. "We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!"
