If the national Attorney General won’t follow the most basic rules, what are we even doing?
Attorney General Todd Blanche is blurring traditional boundaries between politics and federal law enforcement with recent speeches at political events that mark a sharp departure from norms meant to protect the Justice Department from the appearance of partisan bias.
From the appearance and, one hopes, the reality of partisan bias. I for one care far more about the reality than the appearance. I want that fucker to be free of trumpy bias, not just appear to be that.
Blanche took the stage this week at an event for a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina days after speaking at a GOP midterm convention, where he praised Trump and touted the administration’s tough-on-crime approach.
What tough on crime approach? Trump is the most criminal president we’ve ever had, by miles. Nixon looks like an angel next to him. Harding was a saint.
“It lends credence to the arguments that the Justice Department is hopelessly politicized,” said Richard Painter, who was a White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration. “And that’s not where we want to be right now.”
It’s not where we want to be ever. That’s why the “traditional boundaries” were there.
The Justice Department said Blanche’s appearances at political events are made in his personal capacity, and noted that his speeches have addressed the administration’s efforts broadly but do not get into agency policies or official business.
Oh come on. The federal AG can’t appear at public events in his “personal capacity” as opposed to his official one. That’s not possible. It’s not a suit he can take off, it’s a fact about him that doesn’t change unless he resigns or is thrown out.
The Hatch Act prohibits government officials from using their official positions to influence elections. That includes supporting candidates while acting in their official capacities. Watchdog groups have long complained that the law isn’t a strong deterrent and enforcement has been inadequate and uneven.
The Justice Department under Biden in 2022 tightened its restrictions on employees’ attendance at political events after then-Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins attended a fundraiser that featured first lady Jill Biden. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired by Trump in April, later rescinded those restrictions.
Of course she did.
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