Attorney General Todd Blanche holds first press briefing after being newly sworn in

Politics
13 Aug 2026 • 5:47 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Attorney General Todd Blanche holds first press briefing after being newly sworn in

  • Newly sworn-in Attorney General Todd Blanche faced intense questioning regarding politically charged prosecutions and potential government payouts to January 6 rioters during his first press conference in the role.
  • Blanche insisted that a controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund is dead, though critics have argued that Donald Trump’s allies could still seek settlements through the Federal Tort Claims Act.
  • Trump told reporters that the future of the payout fund remains up to Blanche, despite Blanche pledging to Congress during his confirmation battle that the fund was rescinded.
  • Blanche provided no immediate updates on a House Republican criminal contempt referral against Dr. Anthony Fauci or the White House-pressed prosecution of a former Olympian accused of vandalism.
  • House Democrats have criticized Blanche over his closeness to Trump and a new Justice Department memo expanding executive privilege to cover the president's private advisers.

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