Blanche's Political Appearances Test Justice Department Norms

Attorney General Todd Blanche has appeared at a series of political events in recent days, drawing scrutiny over the traditional separation between federal law enforcement and partisan campaigning.

This week, Blanche spoke in North Carolina at an event for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, days after addressing a GOP midterm convention. At the North Carolina event, he told the crowd that more families, friends and community members are safer than two years ago, crediting President Trump and Vice President Vance. He also called Trump "the greatest president of our generation," and his remarks touched on the stock market, inflation and wage growth — subjects beyond his law enforcement portfolio.

Blanche also held a press briefing at the White House this week, taking questions on a range of matters including the Iran war.

The Justice Department said Blanche's political appearances are made in his personal capacity. Spokesperson Kiersten Pels said his speeches address the administration's efforts broadly but do not discuss agency policies or official business, adding that the appearances are reviewed and cleared by department ethics officials and that travel expenses are reimbursed by the attorney general in line with federal law and regulations.

Critics say such appearances risk undermining public confidence in law enforcement decisions that should be free of political interference. Richard Painter, a White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, said the events lend credence to arguments that the Justice Department is hopelessly politicized.

Attorneys general have typically avoided political rallies and kept distance from the White House to prevent the appearance of interference in elections and to protect the perception of impartiality in prosecutions. Blanche, a former personal lawyer for Trump, has rejected allegations that the administration has politicized the agency and that the White House is improperly involved in department matters.

The watchdog group Public Citizen filed a complaint accusing Blanche of violating a law limiting political activity by government workers by participating in a Long Island event where Trump sought to boost Republican candidates in closely contested races. Blanche dismissed the criticism, saying he will always agree to speak when the president asks and that he was there to thank law enforcement, not to endorse candidates.

The Hatch Act bars government officials from using their official positions to influence elections, including supporting candidates while acting in an official capacity. Watchdog groups have long argued that enforcement of the law is inadequate and uneven.

Under Biden, the Justice Department in 2022 tightened restrictions on employees' attendance at political events after then-Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins attended a fundraiser featuring first lady Jill Biden. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired by Trump in April, later rescinded those restrictions. Rollins resigned in 2023 after the department's internal watchdog accused her of broad misconduct.

Before those changes, longstanding policy allowed political appointees to attend political events in their personal capacities if they participated passively and obtained prior approval. Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland, barred their attendance at fundraisers and other campaign events altogether, saying it was necessary to ensure that politics "both in fact and appearance" would not affect how the law is enforced or inquiries are carried out.