Blanche Leaves Open DOJ Role in Election Certification

Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday that the Justice Department could consider intervening in state election certification under a hypothetical extreme scenario, while insisting the department did not intend to improperly interfere with elections. He did not identify what circumstances or legal authority might justify such an action. Asked by reporters in Norfolk, Virginia, whether the department could try to block states from certifying results in the November 3 midterm elections, Blanche answered that hypothetical scenarios could exist. He cautioned against making definitive statements about what might happen and said he was not planning his schedule around the election to be present to prevent certification. Blanche’s remarks left open a possibility rather than announcing a plan. He said it was not the department’s intention to interfere improperly with elections or the state certification process, but declined to say that no circumstances could ever lead it to act. The exchange did not establish that the department intends to challenge or delay certification. The comments came as the Justice Department considers election-related lawsuits against additional states,...