More than one thousand two hundred former employees of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sent an open letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee calling for them to reject the appointment of Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Published by the network named The Justice Connection, the letter emerged just a week before Blanche's confirmation hearings, which are expected to be highly competitive and divided. Former prosecutors expressed their concerns in the letter, suggesting that Blanche acted not as an independent prosecutor, but as a personally loyal supporter of President Donald Trump. Blanche, Trump's former personal defense attorney, was temporarily appointed to this position following the dismissal of Pam Bondi in recent months. In June, he was officially nominated to the Senate to make this temporary position permanent.
The former department employees who signed the letter emphasized that their oaths at the Department of Justice were based on loyalty to the Constitution, not to the person in the White House. The former prosecutors claimed that despite having taken the same oath, Blanche completely betrayed it and used the department for political purposes. The letter specifically criticized, in harsh language, the corruption and abuses of power that occurred at the department under Blanche's leadership. The signatories stated that this understanding of leadership damaged the impartial structure of the department and tarnished the institution's reputation. It was expressed that this situation deeply shook the public's perception of the department's independence.
The letter listed specific actions taken by Blanche during his tenure as Acting Attorney General as evidence, strengthening the claims that he cannot be an independent Attorney General. His role in the process of releasing the Epstein files in a redacted and erroneous manner became a major subject of criticism by the signatories. Furthermore, preventing those responsible for the January 6 Capitol attack from being held accountable and the suspension of procedures were shown as a serious source of concern. Retaliatory lawsuits filed against Trump's political rivals and perceived enemies were another significant issue highlighted in the letter. All these allegations were evaluated as Blanche managing the Department of Justice in a biased manner and violating the principle of the rule of law.
Department of Justice spokesperson Kiersten Pels responded harshly to these criticisms, describing the group that signed the letter as partisan activists. Pels argued that the letter lacked objectivity, noting that among the signatories were figures such as former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and former Biden administration officials. The spokesperson also suggested that these former employees took this step due to personal dissatisfaction with the restructuring process at the department. The department management has repeatedly emphasized that, with Blanche assuming office, the goal is to create a structure entirely compliant with the law and free from politics. Officials stated that the current administration always respects career professionals and strives to make the department more transparent.
Among the signatories of the letter are not only high-level figures but also various prosecutors and agents who have served in the department throughout their careers. Some signatories, including former FBI Special Agent Michael Feinberg, are alleged to have been forced to resign due to disagreements with FBI Director Kash Patel. Additionally, prosecutors who served in the investigation conducted by former Special Counsel Jack Smith regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 elections are among those who signed the document. The signatories claimed in the letter that Blanche created a culture of fear within the department and intimidated professional employees, emphasizing that this situation must end immediately. The former prosecutors stated that the Attorney General must remain loyal only to the law, not to the president, and called for a return to John Adams' famous ideal of 'a government of laws, not of men.'
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