LWV Opposes Nomination of Todd Blanched to be Attorney General

To:          Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee

From:     Celina Stewart, CEO League of Women Voters

Re:          Opposition to the Nomination of Todd Blanche for Attorney General

Dear Senator,

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of the United States, I write to express our opposition to the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney General. The Attorney General occupies a uniquely important role in safeguarding the rule of law, protecting constitutional and voting rights, and ensuring the Department of Justice operates independently and in service to the public interest. At a moment when public confidence in our democratic institutions depends on the impartial and faithful administration of justice, Mr. Blanche’s record raises serious concerns regarding accountable government, protection of constitutional rights, voting rights, and the independence of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. The office demands impartiality, integrity, and a clear commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. Maintaining public trust in the Department of Justice requires the Attorney General to be independent, not beholden to any individual or political interest.

The League’s opposition is rooted in our core principles: government accountability, protection of individual rights, and the freedom to vote for every eligible citizen.
Applying these principles, the League finds that Mr. Blanche’s record as Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General raises significant concerns about his ability to lead the Department independently. Our opposition is based on four key reasons:

1. He failed to uphold the independence required by the Attorney General.
2. He undermined the institutional integrity of the Department of Justice.
3. He failed to protect the fundamental right to vote.
4. He used the Department of Justice’s authority in ways that threaten civil society and civic participation.

I. Failed to Uphold the Independence Required of the Attorney General
Maintaining public confidence in the DOJ requires the Attorney General to exercise impartial legal judgment and avoid personal or political influence in prosecutorial decisions. The Attorney General must execute the law independently.

Immediately prior to Todd Blanche entering DOJ leadership immediately, he served as President Donald Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney.[i] During his confirmation hearing to become Deputy Attorney General, he declined to commit to recusing himself from matters involving his former client, raising concerns about his ability to exercise independent judgment.[ii]

During his tenure, Blanche has publicly asserted that the President has both the “right” and the “duty” to direct the Department of Justice to investigate specific individuals. This position departs from the Department’s longstanding tradition of insulating prosecutorial decisions from political influence and reinforces concerns expressed upon his appointment with the DOJ.

The League believes the Attorney General must serve the Constitution and the American people, not the personal interests of the President. Mr. Blanche’s record raises significant concerns that he has not demonstrated the independence necessary to fulfill that obligation.

II. Undermined the Institutional Integrity of the Department of Justice
The Department of Justice must administer justice fairly and without partisan influence. The Attorney General must ensure career legal professionals can exercise independent judgment, and that prosecutorial authority is not used to reward political allies or punish opponents.

During his tenure, Mr. Blanche supported actions that raised serious concerns about political interference within the Department.[iii] According to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, he removed or supported the removal of career prosecutors and attorneys who questioned the legal or factual basis of politically sensitive matters, while defending investigations and prosecutions of individuals viewed as political adversaries of the President. The coalition also cites his efforts to seek dismissal of seditious conspiracy convictions against leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.[iv]

These actions undermine public confidence that the Department of Justice administers the law impartially and maintains institutional independence.

III. Failed to Protect the Right to Vote
Protecting the right to vote is central to the League’s mission. The Department of Justice must enforce voting rights laws, protect voters from intimidation, and ensure equal access to the ballot.

Rather than demonstrate a commitment to these responsibilities, Mr. Blanche publicly endorsed deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to polling places during the 2026 midterm elections while appearing at a partisan political event. During his appearance, he repeated unsupported claims regarding widespread noncitizen voting and praised efforts by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to obtain unredacted voter registration records from states.[v]

The League believes these statements and any action related to them risk intimidating eligible voters, undermining public confidence in elections, and weakening the federal government’s longstanding role in protecting voting rights.[vi] The Attorney General should strengthen public confidence in free and fair elections and not contribute to actions that may discourage participation or erode trust in the electoral process.

IV. Used Federal Authority in Ways That Threaten Civil Society and Civic Participation
A healthy democracy depends upon the ability of nonprofit organizations, advocacy organizations, and community groups to engage in civic participation free from government retaliation. The League believes the Department of Justice should protect First Amendment freedoms and ensure that civil society organizations can advocate on behalf of their communities without fear of politically motivated enforcement actions.

According to the Leadership Conference, Mr. Blanche directed or supported actions targeting organizations engaged in civil rights advocacy and civic participation, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative.[vii] These actions raise serious concerns that the DOJ’s authority has been used in ways that could chill lawful advocacy and discourage civic engagement.

The League believes the Attorney General should safeguard constitutional freedoms and encourage civic participation and not use federal law enforcement authority in ways that undermine public confidence in those protections.

Conclusion
The Attorney General must protect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, and administer justice fairly and independently. This office requires integrity, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to upholding rights and democratic institutions.

Todd Blanche’s record as Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General raises substantial concerns about whether he has demonstrated the independence, judgment, and commitment to democratic accountability necessary to lead the Department of Justice. Because his actions are inconsistent with the League of Women Voters’ longstanding positions on accountable government, representative democracy, constitutional rights, and the freedom to vote, the League opposes his confirmation as Attorney General of the United States.

[i] U.S. Department of Justice, Biography of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanchev 

[ii] U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Nomination of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Confirmation Hearing 2025.

[iii] Goudsward, A. (2026, April 7). Acting DOJ chief Blanche says Trump has 'right' to influence investigations. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/acting-doj-chief-blanche-says-trump-has-right-influence-investigations-2026-04-07/

[iv] United States v. Nordean et al.

[v] U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel. (2026, May 12). Authority to obtain and share statewide voter roll data. https://www.justice.gov/olc/media/1440346/dl

[vi] League of Women Voters, Impact on Issues, Voting Rights Position.

[vii] Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Sign-On Letter Opposing the Confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General, July 2026