Democracy in Action: Your Letters Opposing Todd Blanche for AG

Blanche's confirmation hearing is 10 days away. Lawyer Oyer readers are making their voices heard. If you haven't yet, you'll find some inspiration here.

Next Wednesday, July 15, Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing on his nomination for Attorney General. Over the next 10 days, we have a critical window to make our voices heard with the Senators who will make or break Blanche’s confirmation. Many of you have already made phone calls and sent letters and emails. If you haven’t yet, there is still plenty of time to do so. See my earlier post, which outlines the steps you can take (and the prior post that sets out many reasons why Todd Blanche is not fit for the job).

About 150 of you have shared with me your letters and emails to Senators urging them not to confirm Blanche for a variety of reasons. They are terrific examples of how we the people can use our voices to demand that our elected officials put our interests first. Thank you!

I’m sharing below a sampling of the points highlighted in these letters. (You can also read my letter here.) I hope they will inspire others to keep the outreach going. Let’s do this!

From Lawyer Oyer Readers: Arguments Against Blanche as AG

The Senate’s respect for itself. Paula S. pointed out that the Senate “passed the bill by unanimous consent to require the DOJ to release the files,” only to see Todd Blanche ignore that directive and instead make a “deal” with “Ghislane Maxwell, the only convicted sex trafficker in a low-security prison in the entire country.”

The Senators’ own experience and prior statements. Some of you pleaded with Republican Senators to stand by the logic of their own prior statements, which would make a vote to confirm Blanche impossible here. For example:

• Matthew from Kentucky wrote to Senator John Cornyn, noting his own prior experience as a state attorney general, and quoting his prior statement in connection with the slush fund Blanche helped set up on behalf of Trump that are “still some unanswered questions about the tax audits and the scope of any immunity from future audits.”

• Sharon H. reminded Senator Thom Tillis that while he specifically received an assurance from Blanche at his hearing for confirmation as Deputy Attorney General that he would not engage in political retribution, but since confirmation “he has” done that “and it does not appear he will do differently if he is confirmed. Confirmation will only strengthen the corruption.”

  

• Suzanne from Chicago implored Senator Marsha Blackburn to stay true to her prior statements in which she has “consistently argued that powerful institutions must answer difficult questions, provide transparency to the American people, and be held accountable for their actions.” (Suzanne actually wrote a dozen individually tailored letters to all 12 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee!)

The importance of public confidence in DOJ. Derrick from North Carolina wrote that “public trust in the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the Department of Justice” is just as important as the “legal qualifications” of the person who occupies the post of Attorney General, and that Blanche’s “recent involvement in highly controversial and politically charged matters has created significant questions about whether he can effectively restore and maintain public confidence in” DOJ.

The quality of DOJ’s legal work and its credibility with the courts. Beth E., an experienced attorney , highlighted the fact that, during Blanche’s tenure as Acting and Deputy Attorney General, “federal courts around the nation have issued decisions and orders expressing complete incredulity at the disgraceful manner in which the U.S. Attorneys and assistant U.S. Attorneys have represented the federal government in their courtrooms”—a “national disgrace” that “is attributable to a culture from the top.”

Blanche’s professional ethics in the practice of law. Kal from Missouri called attention to the pending ethics complaint lodged with the State Bar of New York, which was signed by over 100 former federal and state judges, noting its allegation (among others) that Blanche “personally engaged in conduct deceptive and prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

Echoes of other failed authoritarian regimes in Blanche’s conduct. Kevin H., who used to live in Venezuela, wrote that “everything that is happening at the DoJ . . . is exactly what happened in Venezuela with our Attorney General, our Department of Justice: look the other way, stall, protect dear Leader Chavez. Todd Blanche was so explicit about doing just that, far more than I saw in Venezuela back then. He isn’t the defender of the public; he chose his Master.”

The real-world consequences of bad leadership. Cindy from Pennsylvania underscored the danger of ignoring data and experience and instead setting policy according to political favors as illustrated by the Mel Gibson episode that led to my firing from the Department of Justice, sharing her traumatic experience involving the deaths of two people close to her as a result of domestic violence.

Blanche’s hypocrisy. Cherise V. highlighted Blanche’s own prior accusation that “partisan prosecutors and politicians abused our legal system in completely unprecedented ways to fulfill a political agenda” and that Blanche now himself has been “abusing our legal system to further a political agenda.”

Blanche’s lack of fitness transcends partisan politics. Several writers who self-identified as Republican stressed that Blanche’s record should disqualify him on both sides of the aisle. Mark W., a “registered Republican” who “generally vote[s] conservatively” felt compelled to write against Blanche’s confirmation because there “is now a clear record” that he “is willing to undermine the U.S. Constitution”; he “lied directly” to the Senate Judiciary Committee in his last hearing; he “acted directly contrary to the interests of the people of the United States when he agreed to pay US tax dollars and settled a case that had no merit whatsoever” to create Trump’s slush fund; and he “does not possess the independence necessary to conduct the business of the Department of Justice.”

The moral dimension of this moment. Several writers have expressed a belief that this is a critical moment in our nation’s history. Debra, a grandmother from Oklahoma, wrote:

“We must have an Attorney General who swears allegiance to the Constitution, not to any politician. Todd Blanche is not that man. His record is damning—he has shown, over and over, that he will twist the law to shield the powerful rather than defend justice. This is not a political question. It is a moral one. When the time comes to vote, you will either stand for the rule of law or you will help tear it down. There is no middle ground. For the future of this republic, you must vote against Todd Blanche. The eyes of history are watching.”

Responses from Senators

Senators do read these letters (or at least their staff does!), and they track the feedback they receive. A couple of you have sent me the responses you received from your Senators—I’m sharing those here.

From Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa):

From Committee Member Jon Husted (R-Ohio):

We are writing history here. The next 10 days are critical. Please keep the letters, emails, and phone calls coming. You can share your letters and responses from the Senators here. Thank you for being a part of the Lawyer Oyer community.