Table of Contents
- The Deputy Attorney General in the Crosshairs
- Enabler of Retribution?
- Buffer Against Extremes
- Conservative Backlash Grows
- Legal Ethics vs. Political Loyalty
- Sources
The Deputy Attorney General in the Crosshairs
Todd Blanche, the No. 2 official at the U.S. Department of Justice, is navigating one of the most precarious roles in Washington: serving as both enabler and brake in President Trump’s campaign of political retribution.
Appointed in early 2025, Blanche—a former federal prosecutor and Trump campaign lawyer—was handpicked to help execute the president’s vision of “restoring justice” by targeting political enemies, reversing Biden-era policies, and fast-tracking investigations into figures like Hunter Biden and former intelligence officials.
Yet behind the scenes, Blanche has repeatedly pushed back against the most extreme proposals from Trump allies, including calls to prosecute journalists, jail political opponents without trial, and deploy the DOJ to interfere in state-level elections.
Enabler of Retribution?
Blanche’s fingerprints are on several high-profile actions that align with Trump’s agenda:
- Reopening the investigation into the origins of the Russia probe
- Accelerating the prosecution of Biden family associates
- Overseeing the dismissal of cases against January 6 defendants with ties to conservative causes
- Directing U.S. attorneys to prioritize “election integrity” probes in swing states
“He’s not just carrying water—he’s building the pipeline,” said a senior Republican aide familiar with DOJ operations. “Without Blanche, half these initiatives wouldn’t have cleared legal review.”
Buffer Against Extremes
But Blanche has also drawn a line—at least internally—on measures he deems legally indefensible or politically catastrophic.
According to three current and former DOJ officials, he blocked a proposal from Trump loyalists to indict CNN reporters under the Espionage Act for publishing classified leaks. He also resisted pressure to appoint a special counsel to investigate Kamala Harris over her role as California attorney general.
“He’s trying to keep the department from becoming a full-blown political weapon,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney and law professor at the University of Michigan. “But by enabling selective prosecutions, he’s already crossed a dangerous threshold.”
Conservative Backlash Grows
Blanche’s caution has not gone unnoticed on the right. Prominent Trump allies—including Senator Josh Hawley and media figures like Tucker Carlson—have publicly criticized him as “too soft” and “captured by Beltway norms.”
“We didn’t win to play by Obama’s rules,” Carlson said on his podcast last week. “Blanche talks like a Trump guy but acts like a career bureaucrat.”
Internal DOJ morale is also frayed. Career prosecutors report being sidelined from sensitive cases, while political appointees with minimal experience are given lead roles in high-stakes investigations.
Legal Ethics vs. Political Loyalty
Blanche’s bind reflects a broader tension within the modern Justice Department: Can it serve a president’s agenda without sacrificing its independence?
Legal scholars warn that even partial politicization erodes public trust. A recent Pew Research poll found that only 29% of Americans believe the DOJ enforces laws fairly—a record low.
“Blanche is trying to thread a needle that may not exist,” said Norman Eisen, a former White House ethics lawyer. “You can’t be half-political. Once you cross into retribution, the institution is compromised.”
For now, Blanche remains in place—praised by Trump in private meetings, criticized in conservative media, and watched closely by watchdogs. His legacy may ultimately hinge not on what he approved, but on what he refused to do.
Sources
The New York Times: Part Enabler, Part Buffer: The Bind of the Justice Dept.’s No. 2
