Department of Justice independence stories

Aug 16, 2026

Todd Blanche declines to pledge Justice Department independence from White House

Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to commit to always acting independently of the White House in multiple Sunday show appearances, raising concerns about DOJ independence under Trump.

Aug 16, 20265 sources

Top claims

▪Attorney General Todd Blanche pledged at the Nassau County Police Academy on August 14, 2026, that the Justice Department will prosecute anyone who touches a federal law enforcement officer to the fullest extent of the law
▪Attorney General Todd Blanche compared President Donald Trump's January 6 pardons to former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardons of family members, military officials, and congressional committee members
▪Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the Trump administration may appeal to the Supreme Court to obtain unredacted state voter rolls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

People involved

Donald Trump

Subtopics

Department of Justice1 Executive power1 Federal agencies1 Institutional independence1 Law and justice1 Trump administration1 Trump cabinet & appointments1

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