1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to vote NO on Todd Blanche’s nomination as U.S. Attorney General. TODD BLANCHE HAS NOT SHOWN THE INDEPENDENCE THE OFFICE REQUIRES Todd Blanche’s record raises grave doubts about whether he would enforce the law independently of the President’s personal and political interests. HIS TRUMP CONFLICTS UNDERMINE HIS INDEPENDENCE Blanche defended Donald Trump in criminal cases before entering the Department of Justice (DOJ). Reports indicate that DOJ’s senior ethics lawyer advised him to recuse from matters involving Trump personally. Yet DOJ has not disclosed the advice, its scope, or how he applied it. Those concerns became concrete when Blanche helped settle Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) while responsible for defending the United States. The agreement proposed a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and protections involving past tax matters for Trump and his businesses. Blanche rescinded the fund and confirmed that no board was appointed, no claims processed, and no money paid. Protections involving past tax matters remain. That does not explain why he approved it. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found that the litigation had been pursued for an improper purpose and questioned whether the government’s interests were adequately defended. She sent her opinion to attorney disciplinary authorities to consider whether further action regarding Blanche was warranted. The referral does not establish misconduct, but reflects extraordinary judicial concern about his ethics and judgment. BLANCHE’S VIEW OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER THREATENS IMPARTIAL JUSTICE Blanche has defended a broad presidential role in directing federal law enforcement. Although he disputes supporting prosecutions based solely on political opposition, that view threatens the norm that charging decisions remain insulated from the President’s personal and political interests. An Attorney General must resist political pressure. The Senate should not entrust prosecutorial power to a nominee who has not shown that law, rather than presidential preference, will govern DOJ’s investigative and charging decisions. BLANCHE ATTACKED JUDICIAL AND ETHICS OVERSIGHT Blanche described the administration’s conflict with federal courts as a “war” and attacked “rogue activist judges.” DOJ also sued District of Columbia Bar authorities to limit their power to discipline federal lawyers for official conduct. Meanwhile, 101 former judges joined a New York ethics complaint seeking an investigation of Blanche. The complaint is not a misconduct finding, but the judges’ support underscores concern about his respect for independent oversight. BLANCHE IS UNFIT TO LEAD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Blanche’s unresolved conflicts, expansive view of presidential control, and hostility toward independent legal checks make him unfit to lead DOJ. Vote NO on Todd Blanche’s confirmation as U.S. Attorney General. Thank you.