Trump's Justice Dept. Meddling Jeopardizes 2 Cases and Todd Blanche's AG Bid
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 3
Trump's Justice Dept. Meddling Jeopardizes 2 Cases and Todd Blanche's AG Bid
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 3
Summary
A chaotic week of White House pressure on the Justice Department threatened one criminal case, exposed another to possible sanctions and further damaged Todd Blanche's path to Senate confirmation as attorney general.
Court papers filed Wednesday said Secret Service agents who interviewed former FBI Director James Comey about his "86 47" beach-shell photo were told to rush a summary to Trump aboard Air Force One because the matter was "a hot topic" and he wanted material for a media appearance.
That episode added to evidence that Trump has pushed beyond the department's traditional independence by demanding or steering investigations involving perceived enemies, creating legal and political blowback for his own agenda.
Blanche's nomination was already stalled after Republican senators balked at a $1.8 billion Justice Department-brokered tax-audit deal tied to Trump, underscoring how the president's direct intervention is now complicating both prosecutions and personnel.