1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to vote NO on confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney General. The Senate's constitutional duty of advice and consent requires ensuring that the leader of the Department of Justice is loyal to the United States Constitution and the American people—not to any single individual. Mr. Blanche’s recent testimony and his actions as Acting Attorney General prove he cannot make that critical distinction. Three key issues from his confirmation hearing demonstrate why his nomination is a threat to the rule of law, constitutional limits on executive power, and the integrity of our justice system: 1. Bypassing Congress on a $1.8 Billion Payout System As Acting Attorney General, Mr. Blanche signed off on a unilateral settlement creating a massive, $1.8 billion program to pay political supporters under the guise of legal compensation. Under our Constitution, only Congress has the authority to appropriate taxpayer money. By using a legal settlement to bypass the legislative branch entirely to enrich political allies, this program set a preposterous precedent of executive overreach. Furthermore, under oath, Mr. Blanche refused to rule out using these taxpayer dollars to compensate individuals who participated in violent acts against Capitol Police officers. Sound legal principles dictate that federal funds should never be used to reward those who assault law enforcement. 2. Handshake Agreements on Binding Legal Contracts During his confirmation hearing, under sharp questioning from Senator John Cornyn, Mr. Blanche claimed that this controversial fund is "dead". Yet, he was forced to admit under oath that the underlying settlement has never been rescinded in writing. It remains a legally binding contract. A verbal promise is not a binding commitment to the American taxpayer; it is an open backdoor that leaves the public treasury exposed. 3. Creating a Two-Tiered Justice System and "Bad Faith" Litigation The settlement Mr. Blanche brokered did not just attempt to establish this program; it granted the President and his adult sons extraordinary immunity from pending IRS audits. A federal judge has since ruled that this entire lawsuit was brought in "bad faith" to manufacture judicial legitimacy for a deal with no basis in law. The court has referred the matter to state bar disciplinary boards, where complaints against Mr. Blanche are currently pending. No private citizen is allowed to sue the government to obtain lifetime immunity from tax audits. Doing so for a former client violates the bedrock American principle that all citizens are equal before the law. The Core Issue: Todd Blanche’s career has been defined by representing Donald Trump as a private criminal defense attorney. But the Attorney General’s only client is the United States of America. Throughout his confirmation hearings, Mr. Blanche proved time and again that he still views his role through the lens of a defense attorney protecting a single patron, rather than a public servant protecting the public trust. For the sake of our constitutional balance, fiscal transparency, and the integrity of the Department of Justice, please vote NO on Todd Blanche. I expect you to defend the Constitution and vote accordingly.