More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees have urged U.S. senators to reject the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, citing a "culture of fear" they allege he has created within the department. The signatories, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, stated that Blanche's actions have undermined the DOJ's apolitical workforce and compromised its vital work.
The letter, written by the Justice Connection, a network of former DOJ staffers, warns that the "consequences of Blanche’s attacks on DOJ’s apolitical workforce radiate beyond the halls of Main Justice, affecting the entire country." According to the group, this has resulted in "much of the department’s vital work isn’t being done, or isn’t being done as well – leaving communities less safe, Americans’ rights less protected, and our national security more vulnerable."
Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection, said in a press release that "Since his confirmation as Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche has shown time and again that his guiding star is fealty to the President, not the Constitution." She added that this fealty led to the "purge of thousands of experienced career employees, a loss that will have a generational impact on the Justice Department’s ability to carry out its mission and maintain credibility with the courts and the American people."
The letter highlights controversies during Blanche's leadership, including investigations into President Donald Trump's perceived foes and the announcement of a nearly $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" intended to compensate individuals, such as January 6th rioters, who allege political persecution. Blanche has also faced criticism for his department's handling of case files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The former DOJ employees stated they "took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not the occupant of the White House" and that this oath now compels them to speak out against Blanche's nomination. They accuse him of "demonizing career employees, undermining their work, and driving them out of the department."
The Justice Connection contends that Blanche's leadership has led to the termination of experienced career employees, including those who worked on criminal investigations involving the president. They claim these actions violate civil service statutes designed to prevent corruption and political purges. The letter asserts that employees have either been terminated or resigned to avoid following "illegal or unethical orders" or out of fear of receiving such directives. The former DOJ staffers are calling for an end to the "culture of fear" and a return of respect for career professionals, emphasizing that the Attorney General must adhere to the principle of governing as a "government of laws, not of men."