1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to vote against confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney General. The Attorney General must serve the Constitution and the American people, not act as any president’s personal lawyer. Blanche’s record raises serious doubts that he would maintain that independence. BLANCHE HAS USED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO ADVANCE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S INTERESTS Blanche served as President Trump’s personal defense lawyer before becoming acting Attorney General. Since taking control of the Department of Justice (DOJ), he has repeatedly acted in ways that appear to protect the president and his allies rather than preserve equal justice. The Senate should not give permanent control of DOJ to someone whose independence remains in serious doubt. BLANCHE HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE FULL EPSTEIN FILES TRANSPARENCY Congress enacted the Epstein Files Transparency Act to require disclosure of covered records. Yet DOJ has faced claims that it withheld responsive material and resisted disclosure of communications concerning Blanche’s own role. Blanche also personally interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell before her transfer to a lower-security facility. The timing and circumstances require a full public explanation before any confirmation vote. A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS NOW VOIDED BLANCHE’S $1.776 BILLION SETTLEMENT Blanche defended a proposed $1.776 billion compensation fund and refused to rule out payments to people who assaulted police during the January 6 attack. On July 13, a federal judge voided the settlement behind that fund, found that the lawsuit lacked genuine adversity, and concluded that it was used for the improper purpose of lending judicial legitimacy to benefits for Trump allies. The court also referred the matter to bar authorities where ethics matters involving Blanche and another senior DOJ official are pending. THE SAME RULING NULLIFIED TRUMP’S SPECIAL TAX AUDIT PROTECTIONS Blanche also supported a settlement restricting future Internal Revenue Service enforcement involving President Trump, his family, and affiliated businesses over past tax matters. The July 13 ruling nullified that arrangement and barred the parties from relying on the purported settlement in future proceedings. Those findings deepen concerns that Blanche used public power to create special treatment for the president and his family. Todd Blanche’s record raises serious questions about independence, transparency, equal justice, and the misuse of public power. He has not earned the Senate’s confidence, and he should not be confirmed as Attorney General. (1) VOTE NO. Reject Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General. (2) REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY. Insist that DOJ release every Epstein-related record required by law, subject only to lawful redactions. (3) OBTAIN ANSWERS. Require public testimony under oath about the Maxwell interview and transfer, the voided settlement, the tax restrictions, and DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files before any confirmation vote. Thank you.