Former DOJ staff urge Senate to block Blanche AG nomination

More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees are urging the Senate to reject the nomination of Todd Blanche as Attorney General, citing a "culture of fear" and a mass exodus of career staff they attribute to his leadership. The letter, sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, argues that Blanche has prioritized loyalty to President Donald Trump over the department's mission, undermining its effectiveness and credibility.

The signatories, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, accuse Blanche of demonizing career employees, driving lawyers out through unethical orders, and overseeing the departure of more than 16,000 employees since he joined the department. They claim many were fired unlawfully or without notice, while others resigned rather than follow directives they believed were improper. This loss, they warn, includes over a quarter of the department's attorneys and has created a recruitment crisis, damaging the DOJ's capacity for a generation.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney in several criminal cases, was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in March 2025. He assumed the role of acting Attorney General in...