More than 1,200 former employees of the Department of Justice have called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general. The signatories, who served across fourteen presidential administrations, expressed concerns in a letter that Blanche, a former personal attorney for Donald Trump, has fostered a "culture of fear" and prioritized loyalty to the president over constitutional duties.
The letter, organized by the Justice Connection, a DOJ alumni group, comes days before Blanche is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of a planned confirmation vote. According to Stacey Young, founder and executive director of the Justice Connection, Blanche's tenure has been marked by a guiding principle of "fealty to the President, not the Constitution."
Former DOJ employees detailed a series of actions they argue constitute "corruption and abuses" under Blanche's leadership. These include allegations of "vindictive prosecutions and investigations of the President's foes," rewarding lawbreakers with taxpayer funds, downplaying accountability for the January 6 events, mishandling of the Epstein files, and disparaging judges. The letter also points to "repeated violations" of court orders.
However, the group emphasized their particular concern regarding Blanche's impact on the Justice Department's "apolitical career workforce." They argue that his actions have degraded the department's professional staff, with consequences that extend beyond the department's walls to affect the entire country. The letter urges a return to respecting career professionals and for the Attorney General to uphold the principle of a "government of laws, not of men."
The signatories include dozens of U.S. attorneys, component heads, and other senior leaders from the DOJ and FBI, many of whom have worked directly with Blanche. The Justice Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter.
Blanche's rhetoric has previously drawn criticism. In November, he characterized legal challenges to Trump's executive orders as a "war" between the DOJ and "activist judges." Speaking at a Federalist Society event, he encouraged young lawyers to "fight back," stating, "It is a war, and it is something we will not win unless we keep on fighting."
This stance was rebuked by groups including the New York State Bar Association and the Article III Coalition, composed of former federal judges. The coalition stated that Blanche's rhetoric "not only endangers individual judges and court staff, but also undermines the public’s trust in the judiciary as an impartial and co-equal branch of government."