US Attorney General Todd Blanche has made clear that the Justice Department will defend members of President Donald Trump’s administration if they become targets of investigations by Democrats, who secured majorities in Congress during the midterm elections.
Blanche, a former personal attorney to Trump, said protecting the administration would be among his responsibilities as attorney general, signaling that the Justice Department intends to stand behind senior officials facing scrutiny from the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress.
“My job, as attorney general, is, among other things, to protect the government,” Blanche told CNN.
He specifically mentioned Stephen Miller, one of the most influential figures in Trump’s administration and a key architect of its mass deportation policies. Miller was appointed Friday to the strategically important position of White House chief of staff.
“If they go after Stephen Miller,” Blanche said, referring to the possibility of congressional investigations targeting the presidential adviser, “certainly the Justice Department will be there to protect him.”
Blanche insisted that providing legal representation to executive branch officials was a routine responsibility of the Justice Department, rather than something being done specifically to protect Trump or his closest allies.
“Just like any other cabinet member or member of the administration would follow, we do this all the time. Attorneys at the Department of Justice represent members of the executive branch,” he added.
However, Blanche’s remarks have already drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who question whether the attorney general can properly fulfill his responsibilities while appearing to prioritize the interests of the president and his administration.
Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, accused Blanche of continuing to behave like “Donald Trump’s personal lawyer.”
“All he wants to do is protect Donald Trump, his cabinet members and the people in his administration. That’s not his job,” Garcia said during his own appearance on CNN.
Garcia is expected to take over as chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee beginning in January, putting him in a position to lead congressional investigations into the administration.
According to Garcia, lawmakers must use their constitutional authority to investigate corruption, pass legislation and prevent further misconduct within the government.
He also directed particularly strong criticism at Trump and his family, accusing them of benefiting financially since the beginning of the Republican president’s time in office.
“Donald Trump is the most corrupt person to ever be president of the United States,” Garcia said.
He went further, describing the Trump family as “the most corrupt family to ever occupy the Oval Office.”
The Democratic congressman warned that members of the president’s family and administration should expect to face questions about their financial activities and the wealth they have accumulated since Trump began his presidency.
“They should expect to answer questions” about their enrichment since the start of Donald Trump’s presidency, Garcia said.
Following their decisive victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections, Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, creating a significantly different political environment for Trump during the next phase of his presidency.
Congressional investigations can lead to subpoenas requiring individuals to provide documents or testify before lawmakers. Depending on what investigators uncover, the process could also develop into impeachment proceedings against the president.
However, removing Trump from office would face a major obstacle in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict and remove a president following impeachment by the House.
