Todd Blanche rejects NBC anchors DOJ independence pledge, says Trump would never cross legal line

Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected NBC host Kristen Welker's request Sunday on "Meet the Press" that he pledge the Justice Department (DOJ) would always act independently of the White House, arguing the agency must remain able to carry out lawful presidential policy priorities.

"No, Im not going to pledge that. And no attorney general should ever pledge that," Blanche said.

Blanche used President s directive to target violent criminals to distinguish lawful presidential direction from political interference in an individual case.

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"If President Trump says, I want the Department of Justice to go after every violent criminal in this country, which is what he has said, what youre saying to me is I should say, No, sir, Im not going to do it," Blanche said.

According to the Justice Manual, the department's own rules draw the distinction Blanche described. They permit coordination between the White House and DOJ on policy matters unrelated to pending cases, while limiting contacts about cases to senior officials to protect enforcement decisions from partisan or improper influence.

Blanche also gave a similar answer when Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., asked whether the Justice Department was independent from the White House during his confirmation hearing in July.

"The Department of Justice, like every single Department in the executive [branch], is part of the executive," Blanche said.

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The Justice Department pointed Fox News Digital on Sunday to a post from Emily Covington, director of DOJs Office of Public Affairs, in response to questions about Welkers exchange with Blanche. NBC News and the White House did not immediately respond.

"DOJ is part of the executive branch. Are you suggesting that the focus of the Department should not align with the policy goals of the President, who was elected by the American people? Elected because the people voted for the priorities of that President," Covington said.

Welker followed Blanche's explanation by asking whether he would comply if Trump directed him to cross an ethical or legal line. Blanche rejected the premise and pointed to his constitutional oath.

"He never has. He never will," Blanche said. "I swore to the Constitution of the United States like every cabinet secretary has done and like every attorney general before me has done."

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DOJ separately told Fox News Digital that Blanche had addressed the issue publicly and raised the Biden-era investigation into classified records at Mar-a-Lago.

"The AG has addressed this at length publicly," a DOJ spokesperson said.

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