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More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees encouraged the Senate to reject Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, writing in a Tuesday letter that he has been “demonizing career employees.”
“In the coming weeks, many will rightly underscore the corruption and abuses that have defined the Justice Department under Todd Blanche’s leadership: the vindictive prosecutions and investigations of the President’s foes; the deals designed to reward lawbreakers with taxpayer dollars; the erasure of accountability for January 6; the mishandling of the Epstein files; and the denigration of judges and repeated violations of their orders,” the former employees wrote in a letter organized by Justice Connection, a DOJ alumni group.
“But we want to focus on an area that deserves just as much attention: Todd Blanche’s degradation of DOJ’s apolitical career workforce.”
While such letters are common while a nominee is pending, it’s unusual for them to gain such a large number of signatures. The effort comes as Blanche is set to appear for his confirmation hearing next week.
The letter notes the large number of employees that have left the department under the Trump administration. Some were fired while others “resigned rather than follow illegal or unethical orders.”
Blanche, who initially served as deputy attorney general, was nominated to serve as attorney general after President Trump fired Pam Bondi.
The letter argues Blanche has played a key role in shaping the department to reflect Trump’s priories.
“Blanche has fired or overseen the firings of hundreds of these employees – usually without notice, and for improper, unlawful reasons. Some were terminated for having worked on cases the President didn’t like; for being relatives of the President’s foes; for adjudicating immigration cases in accordance with due process; for declining to initiate vindictive prosecutions; or for refusing to lie in court. These terminations violate the very civil service statutes designed to prevent corruption and political purges,” the letter states.
About 16,000 of the more than 100,000 DOJ employees have left. The bulk are apolitical career employees the alumni call the “backbone” of the department.
“The culture of fear Blanche has instilled within DOJ’s workforce must end. Respect for career professionals must return. Would-be job applicants need to believe the Justice Department lives up to the virtue in its name,” they wrote.
“And instead of exhibiting fealty to the president, the Attorney General must heed John Adams’ admonition that our republic remains a ‘government of laws, not of men.’”
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