1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to oppose the confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is not the President’s private lawyer. The Attorney General is the nation’s chief law-enforcement officer, entrusted with defending the Constitution, protecting the independence of the Department of Justice, and ensuring that the law is not used as a weapon for personal, political, or financial revenge. Todd Blanche’s record shows that he is not suited to that role. His confirmation would not merely be a poor personnel decision; it would be a dangerous ratification of a Justice Department increasingly treated as an extension of presidential grievance. Mr. Blanche’s most obvious conflict is also his most disqualifying one: before leading the Department of Justice, he represented President Trump personally in criminal matters. That fact alone should require extraordinary independence, strict recusals, and a visible commitment to the public interest over private loyalty. Instead, Mr. Blanche has repeatedly appeared to blur the line between public office and personal allegiance. The Attorney General must be able to say no to a president. Mr. Blanche’s public conduct suggests that he sees his role as saying yes. This is not an abstract concern. As Acting Attorney General, Mr. Blanche has already presided over actions that raise grave questions about the misuse of federal law-enforcement power. The proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is a striking example. A fund of that magnitude, controlled through the Department of Justice and tied to claims of political persecution, creates the appearance of a taxpayer-financed political compensation scheme. Even if later abandoned or modified under pressure, its very creation reveals a troubling willingness to use the machinery of justice to reward political narratives rather than uphold neutral legal standards. Even more disturbing is the judicial rebuke connected to the prosecution of Kilmar Ábrego García. A federal judge found that the prosecution was tainted by vindictive motive and specifically connected that taint to Mr. Blanche’s public statements and the involvement of Main Justice. Such a finding should alarm every senator, regardless of party. Prosecutorial power is among the most coercive powers the federal government possesses. When that power appears to be used to retaliate against a person for successfully challenging unlawful government action, the rule of law itself is at risk. The United States Senate must not normalize this. A Justice Department that prosecutes enemies and protects friends is not a Justice Department in any meaningful constitutional sense. It is a political instrument. Confirming Mr. Blanche would send the message that personal loyalty to the president matters more than professional independence, that ethical conflicts can be waved away when politically convenient, and that judicial findings of vindictive prosecution are not disqualifying for the highest law-enforcement office in the country. I also urge you to examine the unresolved questions surrounding Mr. Blanche’s recusals from matters involving President Trump. If he was advised by ethics officials to recuse from Trump-related matters, the Senate must know whether he followed that advice. If he did not, the public deserves to know why. The Attorney General cannot be permitted to supervise, influence, settle, or shape matters involving a former private client—especially when that former client is the President who nominated him. The issue before the Senate is therefore not whether Mr. Blanche has legal experience. He does. The issue is whether his experience and recent conduct demonstrate the independence, restraint, and constitutional fidelity required of an Attorney General. They do not. A lawyer may be zealous in private defense work; an Attorney General must be faithful to the public. Mr. Blanche’s record suggests that he has not made that transition. Confirmation is not a reward for loyalty. It is a constitutional safeguard. The Senate’s advice-and-consent power exists precisely for moments like this: when the nominee’s loyalty to one individual threatens the independence of an institution that belongs to the people. I respectfully demand that you vote no on Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General. I further urge you to call for full public disclosure of all ethics guidance, recusal decisions, communications regarding the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” and records concerning politically sensitive prosecutions initiated or influenced during his tenure as Acting Attorney General. The Department of Justice must serve the Constitution, not the President’s personal interests. The Senate should refuse to confirm any nominee who cannot clearly, credibly, and consistently meet that standard.