Acting AG Defends Probes of Trump Foes, Dismisses Allegations of Weaponization

Blanche says only the president knows why predecessor Pam Bondi was fired.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:49am

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A dimly lit government office with a solitary figure sitting at a desk, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political power.The acting Attorney General's defense of probes into Trump's perceived enemies raises concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department.Washington Today

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended investigations of individuals that President Donald Trump "has had issues with" and said only the president knows why his predecessor, Pam Bondi, was fired. Blanche dismissed allegations that the Justice Department was being "weaponized" against Trump's enemies, claiming there was "weaponization" of the department by the Biden administration "the likes of which had never been seen in history."

Why it matters

The comments from the acting AG come amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Justice Department, with allegations of political interference and the targeting of the president's perceived opponents. This raises concerns about the independence and impartiality of the nation's top law enforcement agency.

The details

Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, said the administration has "thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions" involving "men, women, and entities that the president, in the past, has had issues with and believes should be investigated." He defended the firing of scores of Justice Department prosecutors who had worked on criminal cases against Trump, saying "What we've been doing for the past 14 months is changing this department."

  • Blanche was named interim head of the Justice Department last week.
  • Bondi was fired last week after reportedly drawing Trump's ire.

The players

Todd Blanche

The acting US Attorney General who defended investigations of individuals that President Donald Trump "has had issues with."

Pam Bondi

The former Attorney General who was fired last week, reportedly for falling short in efforts to prosecute perceived Trump political opponents.

Donald Trump

The former president who Blanche says has the right and duty to investigate individuals he "has had issues with."

Joe Biden

The current president whom Blanche accused of "weaponization" of the Justice Department.

Jack Smith

The Special Counsel who brought charges against Trump that were later dropped after he won the 2024 election.

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What they’re saying

“We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now, and it is true that some of them involve men, women, and entities that the president, in the past, has had issues with and believes should be investigated. That is his right, and indeed, it is his duty to do that.”

— Todd Blanche, Acting US Attorney General

“Nobody has any idea why the attorney general is no longer the attorney general and I'm the acting attorney general, except for President Trump.”

— Todd Blanche, Acting US Attorney General

“What we've been doing for the past 14 months is changing this department. People say the president wants to go after his political enemies. No, the president has said time and time again that he wants justice.”

— Todd Blanche, Acting US Attorney General

What’s next

It remains to be seen how the Justice Department will proceed under Blanche's leadership and whether the investigations he defended will continue to be a source of controversy.

The takeaway

The acting AG's comments underscore the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Justice Department, raising concerns about the potential for political interference and the targeting of the president's perceived opponents. This case highlights the delicate balance between the executive branch's oversight of law enforcement and the need for an independent and impartial justice system.