Last month, President Trump put forward Todd Blanche, the Acting Attorney General, to take on the role permanently. After spending over a year as Deputy Attorney General, Blanche has proven he’s capable of much more than merely fulfilling duties. He’s exactly what the Justice Department needs at this moment. I had the honor of working alongside him, and I’ve seen firsthand that he is intelligent, principled, and unafraid. His track record speaks for itself.
Blanche left a successful private career to serve his country. It’s worth noting he doesn’t really need this position; instead, it’s the country that needs him. The Trump administration’s strategy regarding law enforcement and immigration has yielded historic outcomes. Violent crime is at an all-time low, there’s a noticeable decrease in cartel activities, and property crimes have also seen a significant drop.
Blanche has taken the lead in efforts to undo the political bias that crept into the Justice Department under President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. Their actions, such as jailing individuals who entered the Capitol on January 6 and arresting pro-life demonstrators, have stirred considerable controversy. There has been an unequal application of justice that seems to have pushed Americans towards supporting Trump. It’s not enough to halt these injustices; the department must work on mending the harm done by ousting corrupt prosecutors and enforcing laws equally against influential leftists, while also addressing the grievances of those wronged by the government. Blanche has shown he has the bravery to tackle such issues.
While some Senate Republicans have resisted the now-defunct Justice Department’s plan to offer compensation to those wronged by human rights violations during the Biden administration, late Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized that the U.S. has a long-standing tradition of addressing wrongs committed by the government. Justice is not merely about halting injustice; it also involves rehabilitating victims whenever possible. This situation is about affording them what they rightfully deserve.
There’s a strong counter-argument that claims regardless of who leads the Justice Department, the president is still in command. However, this overlooks Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissenting remarks in Morrison v. Olson, which he regarded as a significant point. He argued that the Constitution allocates all executive powers to the president, with the expectation that voters will elect someone who will wield these powers in the public’s best interest. An independent Justice Department would be unaccountable to both the president and the electorate.
Critics from National Review argue that Blanche can’t stand up to Trump because he served as Trump’s personal attorney. Yet, the opposite is likely true. Who is in a better position to relay tough news: someone risking their career to defend the president or someone he barely knows?
Historically, presidents have often preferred attorneys general with whom they share a close working relationship. For instance, Ronald Reagan chose his personal lawyer William French Smith and later his ex-chief of staff and attorney general, Ed Meese. George W. Bush opted for Alberto Gonzalez, who had served as his general counsel in Texas.
The deeper reservations voiced by National Review seem to hinge more on Trump than on Blanche himself. Neglecting to confront a government that has been weaponized only allows wrongdoers to evade accountability and sets the stage for future administrations to repeat those abuses. Meanwhile, the left is not shy about employing power to accomplish its objectives, whereas some conservatives still lean towards inaction — despite being voted into power. Trump’s ascent represented a repudiation of that tepid approach to governance.
Blanche boasts an impressive prosecutorial resume from one of the country’s top U.S. attorney’s offices. By leaving a successful private practice, he has demonstrated that he doesn’t need this role; rather, the nation truly needs him. He has risen to the occasion and surpassed conservative expectations. The criticisms against him often reflect a long-standing conservative tendency to prefer halting progress instead of exercising legitimate authority. Senate Republicans should break away from that instinct and confirm him as attorney general.
