DOJ pledges 'wartime' footing as Democrats prepare to audit Trump-era actions
Attorney General Todd Blanche says the department will not slow down, even as a Democratic-controlled Congress begins probing recent prosecutions and firings.
By Martin Reynolds ·
The Department of Justice has vowed to maintain its aggressive posture as it faces a new wave of oversight from a Democratic-led Congress. Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters on Thursday that the department will not back down from the administration’s agenda, despite the shift in power in Washington. He stated that President Trump has two years remaining in office and that the department intends to use that time effectively.
The change in congressional control opens the door for Democrats to investigate actions taken by the department over the past two years. During that period, the Justice Department pursued cases against the president’s political opponents, dismissed numerous career employees, and defended legal stances that federal judges frequently questioned. Now, Democrats in the majority are preparing to scrutinize those decisions, a level of accountability the department largely avoided while Republicans controlled the legislature.
Internal communications suggest the department is bracing for conflict. Aakash Singh, a top aide to Blanche, told U.S. attorneys across the country on a call this week to prepare for a 'wartime' footing. According to people familiar with the discussion, Singh also indicated that more U.S. attorneys could be pushed out following recent departures. The department later clarified that the term referred to public safety, noting that newly elected local leaders may be less willing to partner with federal law enforcement.
The friction between the two branches is already visible. U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz in Houston sent a letter to Senator Richard Blumenthal regarding his inquiry into funding for the White House ballroom. Reitz ordered the senator to preserve all relevant records and accused him of intimidating citizens who engage in philanthropy. Blumenthal responded that he would not be intimidated by the warning.
The White House has also entered the fray. Counsel Will Scharf issued a letter asserting that congressional inquiries could amount to 'blatant criminality.' President Trump accused Democrats of 'extortion' and ordered Blanche to investigate that claim. Blanche told reporters on Thursday that there were no open investigations into the rhetoric, though he expressed concern about threats against the administration.
Legal experts note that Democrats face procedural hurdles. Subpoenas can be difficult to enforce, and criminal contempt referrals would be sent to the very department they are investigating. Stan Brand, a former general counsel for the House of Representatives, described the situation as a standoff. He observed that first-year law students would likely fail for writing a letter as blunt as the one sent by the White House counsel.
The department has lost key leadership in the weeks following the election. The Senate-confirmed heads of the National Security, Civil, and Civil Rights divisions all announced their resignations. Because the Senate is now controlled by Democrats, it is unlikely that new confirmed leaders for those divisions will be seated quickly. Greg Brower, a former U.S. attorney in Nevada, warned that this lack of confirmed leadership could lead to inaction, as tough decisions are typically made by those at the top of the components.
Leah Foley, the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, told The Associated Press that the recent noise is temporary. She said that prosecutors will continue their focus on fraud, violent crime, drug trafficking, and cartels, and that the department has operated proficiently through divided governments in the past.
