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Blanche Blurs Justice Department Boundaries at Political Events
Confirmed
In Short: Attorney General Todd Blanche blurred the lines between the Justice Department and political events by appearing at a Fox News segment and the Rose Garden, where he defended President Trump's criticism of Supreme Court justices.
District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema dismissed a case connected to the Trump administration's $1.776 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' stating that Blanche had formally rescinded the fund and affirmed its termination under oath.
Blanche sparred with reporters a day after the Supreme Court blocked the administration’s U.S. Postal Service rule restricting election mail, indicating a shift in focus from policy to crime enforcement regarding artificial intelligence.
At a press briefing in the Rose Garden, Blanche accused Democrats of raising alarms about artificial intelligence regulation to gain political advantage before the midterms.
Blanche defended President Trump's right to criticize Supreme Court justices he had nominated, stating that as head of the executive branch, Trump had the authority to express disagreement.
Blanche also tried to downplay any notion that the Trump administration would inject itself into the election more than previous administrations, despite his political appearances.
Pro-life activist Paul Vaughn discussed his seven-figure settlement with the Department of Justice after his home was raided by the FBI following a protest at a Tennessee abortion center.
What this adds
Blanche's appearances at political events and his dismissive stance on artificial intelligence regulation raise questions about the Justice Department's neutrality.
What's confirmed
- District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema dismissed a case connected to the Trump administration's $1.776 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' stating that Blanche had formally rescinded the fund and affirmed its termination under oath.
- Blanche sparred with reporters a day after the Supreme Court blocked the administration’s U.S. Postal Service rule restricting election mail, indicating a shift in focus from policy to crime enforcement regarding artificial intelligence.
- At a press briefing in the Rose Garden, Blanche accused Democrats of raising alarms about artificial intelligence regulation to gain political advantage before the midterms.
- Blanche defended President Trump's right to criticize Supreme Court justices he had nominated, stating that as head of the executive branch, Trump had the authority to express disagreement.
- Blanche also tried to downplay any notion that the Trump administration would inject itself into the election more than previous administrations, despite his political appearances.
- Pro-life activist Paul Vaughn discussed his seven-figure settlement with the Department of Justice after his home was raided by the FBI following a protest at a Tennessee abortion center.
What's still developing
- "That entity is gone," said Brinkema, referring to the Anti-Weaponization Fund and agreeing that Blanche has said under oath at his confirmation hearings that the fund is dead.
- Jake Gibson is the Fox News Department of Justice and Federal Law Enforcement Producer.
- After a brief political firestorm swept across Washington after several executives of leading artificial intelligence firms called for development to slow and Congress to legislate safety guardrails, Blanche said Democrats poured lighter fluid on the matter to help them in the midterms.
- The attorney general said Justice Department officials would focus on crimes involving the technology, not how the industry should be monitored by the federal government.
- “I notice you guys are sweating, which is nice,” Blanche said with a smile.
- Before Blanche stepped out into the sun-drenched and concrete-covered Rose Garden, Trump blasted — without directly naming them — three high-court jurists he nominated to the court for blocking the rule.
- In his social media post, Trump referred to those veteran justices as “legends both,” writing that they “strongly disagreed with this horrible, highly political, ruling.” Blanche defended his boss, saying he had the right as president and head of the executive branch to criticize another arm of the federal government.