Blanche vows to steady DOJ as Trump-era court fights deepen

Attorney General Todd Blanche used his first speech as Justice Department leader to promise fair and impartial enforcement of the law after months of turmoil inside the agency. Speaking at DOJ headquarters in Washington on Aug. 13, Blanche pledged to lead with integrity, welcomed internal disagreements and said the department would respect the judiciary while still pursuing the administration’s priorities. He takes over after President Donald Trump fired Pam Bondi in April and after repeated court clashes, including a ruling by Chief Judge James Boasberg that blocked subpoenas sent to the Federal Reserve over Jerome Powell. Blanche also reiterated this week that DOJ’s $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund has been scrapped, though he left open other ways to compensate people Trump calls victims of past prosecutions.