Trump’s Fund Shows Blanche Choosing Loyalty Over Pushing Back
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, is balancing his role as a Justice Department official with his history as President Trump’s loyal former lead defense lawyer.
- Blanche was expected to restore stability and competence to the department while proving his toughness to secure the permanent position after Pam Bondi’s ouster in April.
- Under Blanche, investigations against Trump’s perceived enemies have accelerated, including the indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey for a social media post, and promotion of debunked election conspiracy theories.
- Blanche recently announced a $1.8 billion fund to compensate those claiming they were unfairly targeted by the federal government, effectively directing taxpayer money to Trump allies, including January 6 Capitol rioters.
- Blanche framed the fund as a corrective measure to prevent government weaponization against Americans, signaling a shift in the department’s approach under his leadership.