US Attorney General declines to pledge DOJ independence from White House

Newly confirmed US Attorney General Todd Blanche declined on Sunday to guarantee that the Department of Justice will always act independently of the White House, declaring that no attorney general should ever make such a pledge. The remarks, made during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," immediately intensified ongoing concerns about the department's autonomy under President Donald Trump.

When asked by host Kristen Welker if he could pledge that the Justice Department would always operate independently of the White House, Blanche responded, "No, I'm not going to pledge that. And no attorney general ever should." Blanche, who was sworn in earlier in the week following a contentious Senate confirmation, argued that a blanket promise of independence would be unworkable. He offered an example, stating that if President Trump requested the department pursue every violent criminal, a pledge of independence would theoretically prevent compliance. Instead, Blanche said he would commit to leading the department with integrity, prosecuting "without fear or any sort of favor."

Welker followed up by asking if Blanche would refuse a presidential instruction he believed crossed an...