Botched

The reflecting pool wasn’t the only flawed and botched installation of late. Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general is a disgrace. Blanche is brazenly loyal to President Trump rather than to the impartial administration of justice.

Blanche has repeatedly undermined the Justice Department’s credibility. More than 1,200 DOJ employees and 35 former federal judges have alleged that Blanche misled courts, pursued politically motivated investigations, and damaged prosecutors’ reputation for independence. He has also failed spectacularly with high profile prosecutions, including grand juries declining to indict in several high-profile cases, as evidence of poor judgment.

Blanche weaponized the Justice Department by attempting to pursue cases against Trump’s political adversaries, including James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, yet defended former U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan after courts ruled her appointment improper. Blanche’s leadership has also led to an exodus of experienced career prosecutors.

Senate Republicans demonstrated their spinelessness once again by confirming Blanche after receiving meaningless assurances about limiting the absurd and blatantly improper IRS settlement that included the $1.8 billion compensation fund for people claiming they were victims of politically motivated prosecutions. Unfortunately, the agreement still protects Trump and his businesses from significant tax liability and leaves room for payouts to allies.

But worst of all, Blanche’s handling of the Epstein files were driven by political considerations, in coordination with the White House, while the rights of the Epstein victims were trampled. Blanche has abandoned the traditional role of an attorney general as an independent guardian of the rule of law, instead serving Trump’s personal interests, making his confirmation another damaging loss for the country.