The Attorney General of the United States, Todd Blanche, has stated that the Department of Justice will provide legal protection to any member of the administration of Donald Trump, in case he becomes the object of investigations initiated by the Democrats. The statement comes after the victory of the Democrats in the mid-term elections, through which they secured the majority in both houses of the US Congress and is expected to increase the pressure on the Republican administration.
Blanche, who previously served as President Trump’s personal attorney, said in an interview with CNN that protecting members of the executive branch is one of his responsibilities as head of the Justice Department.
“My job as the General Prosecutor is, among other things, to protect the administration”, he said, underlining that the institution will be committed to the legal representation of officials who may face investigative procedures.
As an example, Blanche cited Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s closest advisers, known for his role in crafting tough immigration policies and mass deportations. Miller has recently been appointed to the post of White House Chief of Staff.
“If they target Stephen Miller, of course the Department of Justice will be there to protect him,” Blanche said.
His stance has caused strong reactions from Democrats. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, told CNN that Blanche is continuing to act like Trump’s personal attorney rather than the head of the Justice Department.
According to Garcia, the task of this institution is not to protect the president, his cabinet or his associates from the control of the Congress. He stressed that the democrats will use parliamentary powers to investigate issues related to corruption and abuse of power.
Garcia also accused Trump and his family of financial benefits during the presidency, warning that these issues will be part of the attention of Congress.
Meanwhile, the control of both houses of Congress by the Democrats is expected to bring a new political confrontation with the White House. Starting in January, they will have the opportunity to activate parliamentary committees, request official documents and subpoena leadership of the Trump administration.
Through these mechanisms, Democrats can launch extensive investigations into the decisions and activities of the Republican administration, while in certain scenarios they can also consider impeachment procedures for the president. However, a final decision in the Senate requires the support of two-thirds of the members, which makes such a process politically difficult.
