In the last 16 months, Todd Blanche seems to have violated at least four federal criminal statutes that can earn him up to 20 years in prison if anyone ever has the courage to prosecute.
Mr. Armitage, thank you for the clarity, precision, factual legal basis, and ethical foundation to all you describe regarding Mr. Blanche’s transgressions. I am always in awe of what you post. So on track. And the action items. Such a service!
Moving forward with this and I hope your wide readership creates exposure to the point this piece contributes to long overdue accountability. Thank you!
My work has been gaining increasing traction among legal scholarship publications and that combined with the more public facing work has me optimistic about seeing opposition strengthening in sophistication of tactics as well as increasingly larger numbers engaging in that more effective opposition.
Lee, the problem is Armirage has made up these charges. If they were real Armitage would have arrested Blanche and turned him over to the courts. You can bet Armitage hasn’t even gotten out of bed.
Can the states prosecute Blanche for these crimes? That is the only way he can be indicted. Unless I am wrong, the DOJ has to bring him up on Federal charges before a Federal Grand Jury and lots of luck withthat.
Thanks. You are correct about the heat. Again I resort to my down south aphorism.
Politicians have an alligator mouth and a hummingbird ass.
Prtizker, Moore, Newsom are adored by the witless because they talk tough, but I don't pay attention to talk. As my mother said: Actions speak louder than words.
Sadly I don't see Ferguson or the AG Nick Brown doing anything either... disappointed.
Good, because all Iam seeing is Wimps. I voted for Fergie and Brown because I knew who they were running against.
Dave Reichert who ran against Fergie, is a perpetual Republican Party Candidate, who has run for governor virtually every election in which I have paid attention.
He got publicity, because the Green River Killer was caught, when he was Sheriff of King County. Of course he had nothing to do with the capture of Gary Ridgeway, he was suspected of being the killer in 1987 and they took samples of his hair, but DNA was not advanced at that time,
Reichert was Sheriff of King County from 1997 to 2004, Ridgeway's hair sample was taken April 8, 1987. It was DNA taken in 1987, proved in 2001, with no effort or assist on the part of Reichert, that Reichert has been using to gain the governors seat, fortunately the good citizens to the west of the Cascades, haven't bought into his b.s., those on the east side of the Cascades, well there we have Alabama.
Thank you. This is the most affirming piece I have read on Blanche. In my opinion, making Todd Blanche AG would defy all common sense. Nobody in their right mind would hire Blanche, so why should the American public be saddled with him?
I believe Todd Blanche has performed so poorly as an attorney in this administration that he is likely unemployable. If you sat on a corporate board and hired an attorney with an equally bad record you might be found liable for negligent hiring or some other breach of fiduciary duties. Blanche acts like a dolt. He doesn’t know who his client is or who pays his salary (hint: it’s the public). He is arguably violating the law in failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by wrongfully withholding, over-redacting, and failing to redact records subject to the Act. His 9-hour meeting with convicted sex trafficker G. Maxwell, followed by her transfer to country club lock-up, reeks of impropriety. Blanche’s own statements were used to find vindictive prosecution in the Garcia case. A judge referred him to the bar for potential disciplinary action in a scheme to “settle” a non-existent case by transferring our taxpayer money to private parties with no transparency or accountability. Frankly, Blanche appears more interested in destroying the rule of law than enforcing it.
The vote on Blanche has been postponed. There is still time to call or write your representatives to vote NO on Blanche. Please.
Share the cell with his love DJT! Save taxpayers money!! That guy has done most if not all of the same as Blanche, and even started a war of choice and killed civilians and children!! Isn’t it amazing that there are no reports of detonating narcoterrorists in the Caribbean now that he’s busy letting Hegseth and our military bomb kids schools and kidnapping other country’s leaders? ( or it continues but we just don’t hear about it? And then there’s Epstein….
Apparently, Todd Blanche's résumé for U.S. Attorney General reads less like a list of qualifications and more like a "most wanted" poster for ethical violations. We're supposed to believe that being Donald Trump's personal lawyer is preparation for leading the nation's top law-enforcement agency. By that logic, the next surgeon general should come from a reality TV cast.
Instead of being rewarded with a promotion, Blanche's conduct should be thoroughly investigated. The Department of Justice needs an attorney general, not someone whose biggest qualification seems to be unwavering loyalty to Trump. Elevating him to the nation's highest legal office would be like making the fox head of security at the henhouse.
Dear Senators,
I am writing to urge you to use both your social media platforms and the Senate Ethics Committee to demand an immediate and independent investigation into the actions and legal decisions of Todd Blanche during his tenure at the Department of Justice.
The American people must have absolute confidence that the Department of Justice operates independently and is guided by the Constitution and the rule of law—not by political loyalty or personal allegiance. Given Mr. Blanche's previous role as President Trump's personal attorney and the serious concerns that have been raised regarding decisions made under his authority, Congress has an obligation to determine whether ethical standards, professional responsibilities, or federal laws have been compromised.
No individual entrusted with enforcing our nation's laws should be shielded from scrutiny because of political connections or prior relationships. The integrity of the justice system depends on transparency, accountability, and the willingness of elected officials to confront potential abuses of power wherever they occur.
I respectfully call upon you to publicly demand a thorough investigation and to use every tool available, including your social media platforms and the Ethics Committee, to ensure that any misconduct is fully examined. The people of New Jersey and the nation deserve a Department of Justice that is independent, impartial, and accountable to the law alone.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that public trust in our institutions can be preserved only when allegations of wrongdoing are investigated openly and without fear or favor. Silence in the face of such concerns undermines that trust.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your service to the people of New Jersey.
"*By that logic, the next surgeon general should come from a reality TV cast*." Please, don't give them ideas! Surely raccoon penises were already a bridge too far.
What I just sent to Sen. Kennedy, a member of the Judiciary Committee:
"You may recall that I wrote to you 2-3 weeks ago asking how you will vote (and why) as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on advancing the nomination of Todd Blanche to Attorney General, to which you have not yet responded.
"So, I renew my request to hear from you on this issue. I know that the Committee vote has been postponed because at this point it is likely that the vote to advance will likely fail. However, I would still appreciate the courtesy of a response, since you have had input from the hearing and other official sources, and it is important to me to know your position on this issue.
Sent to Thom Tillis one of my two Senators. The other one is Ted Budd a confirmed Trump sycophant. I am not sure he would even read it, but I will give him a chance!
Done. I have sent the following letter to all four. Please feel free to use it as a sample: I am a constituent writing to ask you to publicly call for a criminal investigation into Todd Blanche, currently serving as acting Attorney General of the United States.
The public record, corroborated by ProPublica, the Campaign Legal Center, and Senate Judiciary Committee proceedings, shows the following:
Before divesting his cryptocurrency holdings as required by his own ethics agreement, Blanche issued a memo ending crypto company investigations and disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team. His holdings at the time were valued at between $159,000 and $485,000. He then transferred those assets to family members rather than selling them outright. Virginia Canter, an ethics attorney who served under four presidents, has called this an obvious conflict of interest.
This conduct appears to violate 18 U.S.C. Section 208, the federal conflict of interest statute. Additional conduct in the public record suggests possible violations of 18 U.S.C. Section 209 (receiving outside compensation from his former law firm while in office), 18 U.S.C. Section 1505 (obstruction), and 18 U.S.C. Section 401 (violation of a court order). Together these statutes carry penalties of up to 20 years.
The Campaign Legal Center filed a formal complaint with the DOJ Inspector General in January 2026. Six U.S. Senators sent Blanche a letter demanding answers in January 2026. He has not publicly responded.
The person who heads the Justice Department appears to have committed federal crimes and faces no investigation from anyone. That is not a political statement. It is a description of what the law says and what the evidence shows.
I am asking you to do the following:
State publicly, on your official social media accounts and in any relevant committee proceedings, that you support a criminal investigation into Todd Blanche for the conduct described above.
If you are my state Attorney General, I am also asking you to take a public position on whether your office will investigate and prosecute any federal official who violates state law, regardless of any claim of federal immunity.
I am 71 years old. I have voted in every election of my adult life. I am not easily alarmed. I am alarmed now. An Attorney General who breaks the laws he is sworn to enforce, with no accountability and no investigation, is a serious threat to the rule of law itself.
A form letter response will tell me everything I need to know about your commitment to accountability. I hope not to receive one.
We in Michigan need help getting El-Sayed elected. Stevens is getting $MILLIONS IN AIPAC money. She blasts ICE yet takes their contributions. She voted NO on insider trading, voted for $1.2TRILLION FUNDING THAT FULLY FUNDED ICE.
The Republicans want her so they can play the recordings they have in the past making fun of her.
And Roger’s should NOT be our Governor! He went to live in Florida in his $$$$$multimillion mansion.
Excellent analysis. I have written to my Senator John Kennedy (a member of the Judiciary Committee), asking how he intends to vote on Blanche, and why. No response in over two weeks. I'll send him the link to this article, with a new request..
Mr. Armitage, thank you for the clarity, precision, factual legal basis, and ethical foundation to all you describe regarding Mr. Blanche’s transgressions. I am always in awe of what you post. So on track. And the action items. Such a service!
Moving forward with this and I hope your wide readership creates exposure to the point this piece contributes to long overdue accountability. Thank you!
Appreciate it, Katherine.
My work has been gaining increasing traction among legal scholarship publications and that combined with the more public facing work has me optimistic about seeing opposition strengthening in sophistication of tactics as well as increasingly larger numbers engaging in that more effective opposition.
Thanks again for being here!
This is very hearteningly good news! Thank you for letting your reader community know via this response!
Problem, It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove,
HE SHOULD BE DISBARRED AND PROSECUTED.
Lee, the problem is Armirage has made up these charges. If they were real Armitage would have arrested Blanche and turned him over to the courts. You can bet Armitage hasn’t even gotten out of bed.
Can the states prosecute Blanche for these crimes? That is the only way he can be indicted. Unless I am wrong, the DOJ has to bring him up on Federal charges before a Federal Grand Jury and lots of luck withthat.
Yes, it's within states powers.
It's going to take time to convince the right people or get the right people elected who are ready for the heat.
Thanks. You are correct about the heat. Again I resort to my down south aphorism.
Politicians have an alligator mouth and a hummingbird ass.
Prtizker, Moore, Newsom are adored by the witless because they talk tough, but I don't pay attention to talk. As my mother said: Actions speak louder than words.
Sadly I don't see Ferguson or the AG Nick Brown doing anything either... disappointed.
I'm seeing party insiders and long time supporters of Fergie and Brown who are becoming increasingly frustrated with their unambitious responses.
Good, because all Iam seeing is Wimps. I voted for Fergie and Brown because I knew who they were running against.
Dave Reichert who ran against Fergie, is a perpetual Republican Party Candidate, who has run for governor virtually every election in which I have paid attention.
He got publicity, because the Green River Killer was caught, when he was Sheriff of King County. Of course he had nothing to do with the capture of Gary Ridgeway, he was suspected of being the killer in 1987 and they took samples of his hair, but DNA was not advanced at that time,
Reichert was Sheriff of King County from 1997 to 2004, Ridgeway's hair sample was taken April 8, 1987. It was DNA taken in 1987, proved in 2001, with no effort or assist on the part of Reichert, that Reichert has been using to gain the governors seat, fortunately the good citizens to the west of the Cascades, haven't bought into his b.s., those on the east side of the Cascades, well there we have Alabama.
Blanche's crimes are obvious, why is it that the states don't step up and make the charges!! The investigation will have overwhelming evidence.
Thank you. This is the most affirming piece I have read on Blanche. In my opinion, making Todd Blanche AG would defy all common sense. Nobody in their right mind would hire Blanche, so why should the American public be saddled with him?
I believe Todd Blanche has performed so poorly as an attorney in this administration that he is likely unemployable. If you sat on a corporate board and hired an attorney with an equally bad record you might be found liable for negligent hiring or some other breach of fiduciary duties. Blanche acts like a dolt. He doesn’t know who his client is or who pays his salary (hint: it’s the public). He is arguably violating the law in failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by wrongfully withholding, over-redacting, and failing to redact records subject to the Act. His 9-hour meeting with convicted sex trafficker G. Maxwell, followed by her transfer to country club lock-up, reeks of impropriety. Blanche’s own statements were used to find vindictive prosecution in the Garcia case. A judge referred him to the bar for potential disciplinary action in a scheme to “settle” a non-existent case by transferring our taxpayer money to private parties with no transparency or accountability. Frankly, Blanche appears more interested in destroying the rule of law than enforcing it.
The vote on Blanche has been postponed. There is still time to call or write your representatives to vote NO on Blanche. Please.
Blanche Behind Bars
Share the cell with his love DJT! Save taxpayers money!! That guy has done most if not all of the same as Blanche, and even started a war of choice and killed civilians and children!! Isn’t it amazing that there are no reports of detonating narcoterrorists in the Caribbean now that he’s busy letting Hegseth and our military bomb kids schools and kidnapping other country’s leaders? ( or it continues but we just don’t hear about it? And then there’s Epstein….
Apparently, Todd Blanche's résumé for U.S. Attorney General reads less like a list of qualifications and more like a "most wanted" poster for ethical violations. We're supposed to believe that being Donald Trump's personal lawyer is preparation for leading the nation's top law-enforcement agency. By that logic, the next surgeon general should come from a reality TV cast.
Instead of being rewarded with a promotion, Blanche's conduct should be thoroughly investigated. The Department of Justice needs an attorney general, not someone whose biggest qualification seems to be unwavering loyalty to Trump. Elevating him to the nation's highest legal office would be like making the fox head of security at the henhouse.
Dear Senators,
I am writing to urge you to use both your social media platforms and the Senate Ethics Committee to demand an immediate and independent investigation into the actions and legal decisions of Todd Blanche during his tenure at the Department of Justice.
The American people must have absolute confidence that the Department of Justice operates independently and is guided by the Constitution and the rule of law—not by political loyalty or personal allegiance. Given Mr. Blanche's previous role as President Trump's personal attorney and the serious concerns that have been raised regarding decisions made under his authority, Congress has an obligation to determine whether ethical standards, professional responsibilities, or federal laws have been compromised.
No individual entrusted with enforcing our nation's laws should be shielded from scrutiny because of political connections or prior relationships. The integrity of the justice system depends on transparency, accountability, and the willingness of elected officials to confront potential abuses of power wherever they occur.
I respectfully call upon you to publicly demand a thorough investigation and to use every tool available, including your social media platforms and the Ethics Committee, to ensure that any misconduct is fully examined. The people of New Jersey and the nation deserve a Department of Justice that is independent, impartial, and accountable to the law alone.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that public trust in our institutions can be preserved only when allegations of wrongdoing are investigated openly and without fear or favor. Silence in the face of such concerns undermines that trust.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your service to the people of New Jersey.
Sincerely,
"*By that logic, the next surgeon general should come from a reality TV cast*." Please, don't give them ideas! Surely raccoon penises were already a bridge too far.
If we have a president that came from reality TV what difference would it be
Thank you!
What I just sent to Sen. Kennedy, a member of the Judiciary Committee:
"You may recall that I wrote to you 2-3 weeks ago asking how you will vote (and why) as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on advancing the nomination of Todd Blanche to Attorney General, to which you have not yet responded.
"f you are having trouble deciding, here is a link to additional information that might help you decide. https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/not-only-should-todd-blanche-not Also, recall that a formal complaint has been filed with the NY State Bar. (see https://joycevance.substack.com/p/101-former-judges-ask-the-new-york ).
"So, I renew my request to hear from you on this issue. I know that the Committee vote has been postponed because at this point it is likely that the vote to advance will likely fail. However, I would still appreciate the courtesy of a response, since you have had input from the hearing and other official sources, and it is important to me to know your position on this issue.
All correspondence with Congressional Republicans needs to include that if the remain MAGA loyalists, the out to start looking for another job
Sent to Thom Tillis one of my two Senators. The other one is Ted Budd a confirmed Trump sycophant. I am not sure he would even read it, but I will give him a chance!
Done. I have sent the following letter to all four. Please feel free to use it as a sample: I am a constituent writing to ask you to publicly call for a criminal investigation into Todd Blanche, currently serving as acting Attorney General of the United States.
The public record, corroborated by ProPublica, the Campaign Legal Center, and Senate Judiciary Committee proceedings, shows the following:
Before divesting his cryptocurrency holdings as required by his own ethics agreement, Blanche issued a memo ending crypto company investigations and disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team. His holdings at the time were valued at between $159,000 and $485,000. He then transferred those assets to family members rather than selling them outright. Virginia Canter, an ethics attorney who served under four presidents, has called this an obvious conflict of interest.
This conduct appears to violate 18 U.S.C. Section 208, the federal conflict of interest statute. Additional conduct in the public record suggests possible violations of 18 U.S.C. Section 209 (receiving outside compensation from his former law firm while in office), 18 U.S.C. Section 1505 (obstruction), and 18 U.S.C. Section 401 (violation of a court order). Together these statutes carry penalties of up to 20 years.
The Campaign Legal Center filed a formal complaint with the DOJ Inspector General in January 2026. Six U.S. Senators sent Blanche a letter demanding answers in January 2026. He has not publicly responded.
The person who heads the Justice Department appears to have committed federal crimes and faces no investigation from anyone. That is not a political statement. It is a description of what the law says and what the evidence shows.
I am asking you to do the following:
State publicly, on your official social media accounts and in any relevant committee proceedings, that you support a criminal investigation into Todd Blanche for the conduct described above.
If you are my state Attorney General, I am also asking you to take a public position on whether your office will investigate and prosecute any federal official who violates state law, regardless of any claim of federal immunity.
I am 71 years old. I have voted in every election of my adult life. I am not easily alarmed. I am alarmed now. An Attorney General who breaks the laws he is sworn to enforce, with no accountability and no investigation, is a serious threat to the rule of law itself.
A form letter response will tell me everything I need to know about your commitment to accountability. I hope not to receive one.
Respectfully,
I called: Senators Cornyn, Tillis & Peters.
We in Michigan need help getting El-Sayed elected. Stevens is getting $MILLIONS IN AIPAC money. She blasts ICE yet takes their contributions. She voted NO on insider trading, voted for $1.2TRILLION FUNDING THAT FULLY FUNDED ICE.
The Republicans want her so they can play the recordings they have in the past making fun of her.
And Roger’s should NOT be our Governor! He went to live in Florida in his $$$$$multimillion mansion.
Agreed❗
You can not have criminals running things, but here we are with exactly that.
Toad Blanche looks like what would happen if one can stub their face 🤬
THANK YOU FOR THIS!
Excellent analysis. I have written to my Senator John Kennedy (a member of the Judiciary Committee), asking how he intends to vote on Blanche, and why. No response in over two weeks. I'll send him the link to this article, with a new request..