‘We will always respect the role of the judiciary’: Todd Blanche makes surprising turn
WASHINGTON, DC: Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche took a markedly different tone in his first address to Justice Department employees, urging respect for federal judges and internal disagreement.
That approach contrasted with earlier remarks in which Blanche described fights with judges as a “war” and criticized “rogue activist judges.”
Blanche made the comments Thursday, August 12, during a 19-minute address in DOJ’s Great Hall, with thousands watching by video.
Blanche urges DOJ to respect the judiciary
“We will always respect the role of the judiciary,” Blanche told employees. “We will not engage in or stand for any sort of performative attacks that undermine the institutions that we are sworn to uphold.”
The message contrasted with Blanche’s remarks last November to the conservative Federalist Society, where he described the department’s fight with federal judges over President Trump’s policies as a “war.”
“The system is not set up for efficiency when it comes to rogue activist judges,” Blanche said then.
The department has also continued to use the phrase “activist judges” in public statements about judges who have ruled against Trump’s agenda.
But Blanche’s Thursday address contained no such denunciation.
He instead emphasized the department’s traditional mission and the rule of law, promising to lead with integrity and uphold the law “without fear or favor.”
AG Todd Blanche backs disagreement inside DOJ
Blanche also emphasized that the department works best when employees with different backgrounds and politics put its mission first.
“What I have seen over the past 30 years working intimately with this department is that this department succeeds when people of different backgrounds, different politics, different life experiences put the mission of the department first,” he said.
“I think disagreement is extraordinarily healthy,” Blanche added. “I think disagreement is the only way that we make the best decisions as a department, … and I want to encourage everybody to do that.”
His remarks came as DOJ has faced criticism over its conduct since Trump returned to office.
The department has launched prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
DOJ has also lost thousands of attorneys since Trump came into office, with many saying they observed increasing politicization of the department.
Critics challenge Blanche’s message
Stacey Young of Justice Connection, a group of former DOJ employees, said Blanche’s remarks did not match the department’s actions, as per the Politico.
“Under his leadership, hundreds of DOJ’s career workforce have been fired because of their backgrounds, their perceived politics, and for fiercely pushing back in conference rooms throughout the country,” Young said.
She said thousands more had left, accusing leadership of violating principles.
“Attorney General Blanche’s platitudes will only resonate if his actions start matching his words,” Young said.
During a Wednesday press conference about immigration fraud, Blanche said Trump’s Justice Department was working with DHS to secure the border and protect communities, “something that was ignored during the last administration.”
On Thursday, however, Blanche did not directly criticize prior administrations. He instead told DOJ employees that he would support them if they tried to do the right thing.
“If you do that, I promise I will back you every step of the way,” Blanche said.
