In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump’s Sway
Time and again, Todd Blanche has made it clear that he believes President Trump possesses a nearly limitless right to directly control the actions of the Justice Department.
The three lame-duck Republican senators who narrowly saved Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general ended up backing him because they believed he was the only person who had earned enough trust, and enjoyed enough access, to rein in President Trump.
One issue with that calculation: Mr. Blanche is a champion of unbridled presidential power.
Mr. Blanche’s confirmation in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday was largely symbolic: as acting attorney general, he could have served indefinitely. But it represented a powerful endorsement by Congress of the philosophy that has guided him under a meddling, demanding boss — that he has a constitutional obligation to execute every lawful White House order, even if it shatters longstanding policy and rule-of-law norms, or contradicts what he thinks is right.
He articulated that view from the moment he took over as acting attorney general in April, telling reporters that Mr. Trump had “the right” and “duty” to order up investigations of people he targets. During his confirmation, both in public and in private conversations, Mr. Blanche sidestepped questions over whether actions Mr. Trump ordered were right, saying only that Mr. Trump had the right to do them.
