1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote "NO" on the confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent position of U.S. Attorney General. The Attorney General must serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the American people, bound by an oath to the Constitution. Mr. Blanche’s recent actions demonstrate a dangerous pattern of prioritizing personal loyalty to his former client, Donald Trump, over the independence of the Department of Justice and the separation of powers. My opposition is based on these specific, documented actions: - A Collusive "Settlement" Blocked by Judges: Mr. Blanche engineered an irregular deal to end a personal lawsuit Donald Trump filed against the IRS. Rather than doing his duty to defend the government, Mr. Blanche quickly gave in and wrote this deal, to the great benefit of Trump, his family and his businesses. The deal was structured to bypass standard oversight, prompting federal judges to halt it and investigate whether the maneuver constituted a "fraud on the court." - The "Super Pardon" Tax Shield: While Mr. Blanche recently testified that the DOJ will not move forward with a controversial $1.8 billion settlement fund, he has refused to put that cancellation in writing. More alarmingly, he is actively defending a signed, one-page addendum to the deal that grants the President, his family, and his businesses permanent immunity from IRS audits and federal investigations. No attorney general should use the DOJ to place a former client permanently above the law. - Bypassing Congressional Power over the Purse: By attempting to utilize the federal Judgment Fund to bankroll these sweeping payouts, Mr. Blanche’s DOJ designed a mechanism to distribute massive taxpayer-funded checks while completely bypassing congressional oversight and the constitutional appropriations process. - Unavoidable Conflict of Interest: Before entering the DOJ, Mr. Blanche served as Donald Trump’s personal defense attorney in multiple criminal cases. The direct transition from representing a criminal defendant to running the very institution responsible for federal prosecutions creates an irreconcilable conflict of interest that destroys public trust. The Department of Justice must remain an institution governed by the rule of law, not by personal allegiances. I ask that you uphold your constitutional duty to advise and consent by rejecting this nomination to ensure the integrity of our nation’s top law enforcement office.