Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected NBC host Kristen Welker’s request 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.

DOJ Independence

Blanche used President Donald Trump’s directive to target violent criminals to distinguish lawful presidential direction from political interference in an individual case. He stated that if President Trump says he wants the Department of Justice to go after every violent criminal in this country, he should not say no to that.

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.

Confirmation Hearing

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 Justice Department pointed to a post from Emily Covington, director of DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, in response to questions about Welker’s exchange with Blanche.

Covington stated that DOJ is part of the executive branch and that the focus of the Department should align with the policy goals of the President, who was elected by the American people. Blanche later said he would consider Trump’s views on an individual prosecution but would stand up for what he believed was right.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.