In 1973, at the height of the Watergate scandal, Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox demanded that President Nixon turn over the now infamous “Watergate tapes.” President Nixon ordered then Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson refused, and was promptly fired, as were several others in what came to be known as the “Saturday night massacre.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, formerly President Trump’s personal attorney and now his nominee for attorney general, made clear in his confirmation hearings that he will do whatever Trump asks him to do, which would set a new low standard for the attorney general and the Department of Justice.
As deputy, and now acting attorney general, Blanche has overseen the indictment of Trump’s perceived political enemies (James Comey, Letitia James, to name two) on the flimsiest of charges; has failed to follow the law passed by Congress requiring the release of all of the “Epstein files”; indicted six sitting members of Congress for the “crime” of putting out a video that merely stated the law regarding soldiers’ duties not to follow illegal orders given by their superiors; subpoenaed New York Times reporters to reveal their sources to a grand jury in violation of Justice Department policy because President Trump did not like a story they wrote; and personally signed the so-called “settlement agreement” with President Trump whereby the IRS immunized President Trump and his family from all past tax violations and set up a fund where even Jan. 6 rioters who assaulted police officers could seek compensation.
That agreement was so outrageous that a sitting federal judge has referred Blanche for potential state bar discipline in two jurisdictions. None of this is “normal!”
In short, Blanche is not remotely qualified to be attorney general. Yet only two Republicans Senators (Cornyn and Tillis, both of whom are leaving after this term), have expressed concerns that may hold up or delay his nomination.
Where are the rest of the Republican senators, including our own Sen. Curtis and Sen. Lee? One can only surmise that, by their silence, they have decided to once again bow to President Trump, and have lost their moral compass relating to the rule of law, and the independence of the Department of Justice.
Ira Rubinfeld, Springdale