'No, not going to pledge that': Blanche won't promise DOJ will act independently of Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had previously been accused of siding with President Donald Trump, did little to dispel that perception in his latest interview.

Todd Blanche was officially sworn in as the US attorney general on Monday, August 10, following a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation vote on August 8.

Todd Blanche rejects promise of White House independence

Appearing on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, August 16, Todd Blanche refused to pledge that the DOJ would remain unaffected by the Trump administration and work independently without any involvement.

‘Meet the Press’ host Kristen Welker referred to Blanche’s address to the DOJ staff, where he said that the DOJ would operate without fear or favor. She asked if the AG could pledge that the Justice Department would act independently of the White House.

First, Blanche tried unsuccessfully to redirect the conversation and ultimately refused to take any such pledge.

“There's a big difference between saying we will be, we will always do our job, investigate any case, and act independently of the White House. No, I'm not going to pledge that,” Todd Blanche replied to Welker.

Welker asked Blanche further, "If the president asked you to do something that you feel crosses an ethical or legal line, would you do it?"

To which Blanche replied, “He would never do that. He never has. He never will.”

Todd Blanche sides with Jeanine Pirro on Reflecting Pool issue

Blanche also defended US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office declined to prosecute a Reflecting Pool vandalism case that angered President Trump.

“I absolutely support US Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump,” Blanche said, contrasting that support from Trump’s frustration with the Reflecting Pool case.

“Now, that’s different than whether the president is extraordinarily frustrated at what happened in that case. And I don’t in any way fault him for that,” Blanche added.

Pirro decided not to prosecute former Olympian David Hearn, who was initially charged with vandalizing the Reflecting Pool's lining in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Earlier, Sen Lisa Murkowski, while refusing to support Blanche’s nomination as AG, argued that Blanche, as Trump's former defense attorney, lacks the independence to hold the president accountable.

The Alaska senator explained that she thinks people would want a DOJ chief to “check the worst impulses of this administration” and doubted Blanche’s ability to do that.

“I hope Mr Blanche is able to achieve that... but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case,” the Alaska Republican added.