Watchdog group warns Trump just crafted a DOJ ‘that will serve him, not the American people’ with Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general

A leading watchdog group has warned that with Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, President Donald Trump has essentially created a Department of Justice (DOJ) “that will serve him, not the American people.” The Senate confirmed Blanche’s appointment as the attorney general by a 50-49 vote early Saturday, August 8, after Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the decisive vote. The outcome has intensified concerns about whether Blanche can maintain the DOJ’s independence while serving an administration that has been accused of weaponizing the department.

Watchdog group CREW warns of a politicized DOJ under Todd Blanche

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group that was among several progressive and democracy-focused organizations that campaigned against Blanche’s confirmation, accused Senate Republicans of failing to use their constitutional authority to restrain presidential power. Donald K. Sherman, CREW’s president and CEO, said the confirmation gives Trump greater influence over the Justice Department at a critical moment. “With this vote, a majority of the Senate abdicated its constitutional responsibility to serve as a check on the executive and instead helped President Trump craft a Justice Department that will serve him, not the American people,” Sherman said in a statement shared with Newsweek. Sherman added that it is “disgusting and disheartening” that Senate Republicans are “not only going along with Trump’s authoritarian wishes, but using their power to grant them, over and over again.”

‘Todd Blanche has no intention of stopping Trump’s corruption’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued that Blanche’s background as Trump’s former defense lawyer creates an inherent conflict with the responsibility of the attorney general to enforce federal law independently. Schumer accused Republicans of giving Trump “an excuse on a silver platter” to continue what he called “pervasive, breathtaking corruption.”

“If you want to wipe out corruption, you can’t have the president’s personal attorney as the attorney general,” he said. “Todd Blanche has no intention of stopping Trump’s corruption. He advanced his career enabling it.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned the confirmation, criticizing Republicans for approving Blanche during an overnight Senate vote. “Under the cover of darkness, Republicans confirmed Donald Trump’s personal lawyer to serve as Attorney General,” Pelosi wrote on X. “The American people deserve a Justice Department that defends the rule of law, not one weaponized to protect the President, reward his allies & shield his corruption.”

New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján opposed Blanche’s confirmation while focusing his statement on the DOJ’s handling of matters connected to Jeffrey Epstein. “The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes deserve transparency and accountability, not continued efforts to withhold information or shield those in positions of power,” Luján wrote on X. “Under Todd Blanche’s leadership, the DOJ will continue putting President Trump’s personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims. I voted NO.”

Republican concerns nearly blocked Todd Blanche’s confirmation

Blanche’s confirmation remained uncertain until the final days of the process. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski signaled that they would be the only Republican senators to vote against him, leaving the Trump administration to secure support from Cassidy, who has repeatedly clashed with Trump during his second term. Cassidy had been particularly concerned about an IRS settlement that provided special tax and audit protections to Trump and his family, as well as the proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund that critics said could benefit Trump allies.

Cassidy commented that the IRS protections are “totally wrong” and were almost enough to make him oppose Blanche. However, after discussions with Blanche and consultation with former Attorney General William Barr, Cassidy concluded that other considerations outweighed his concerns. Blanche ultimately rescinded the order establishing the Anti-Weaponization Fund and issued assurances that he intends to narrow the scope of the IRS arrangement.

Karoline Leavitt says Todd Blanche will be a ‘phenomenal attorney general’

Blanche had served as acting attorney general since April, after Trump removed Pam Bondi from the position amid frustration over the DOJ’s handling of records pertaining to convicted predator Jeffrey Epstein. His tenure as acting attorney general quickly became a source of controversy, with critics arguing that his actions involving Trump and his political allies blurred the distinction between presidential interests and the Justice Department’s institutional responsibilities.

The White House, however, portrayed Blanche’s confirmation as evidence that Trump had secured the leadership he wanted for the department. In a statement shared with Newsweek, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Blanche’s confirmation “a huge win for President Trump and our country” and said he will be a “phenomenal attorney general of the United States.” Leavitt added that Americans will be “well served by his unwavering commitment to law and order.”