Acting DOJ chief Blanche says Trump has 'right' to influence investigations

Source: Reuters

Acting DOJ chief Blanche says Trump has 'right' to influence investigations

By Andrew Goudsward
Tue, April 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT
2 min read

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has a right and duty to ‌shape federal probes of individuals who investigated him as he faces pressure from ‌the president to deliver prosecutions of perceived enemies.

In his first extended comments since being named acting attorney general last ​week, Blanche bristled at the notion that the Justice Department has been improperly targeting Trump's opponents, but defended the president's authority to influence investigations.

"We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now. It is true that some of them involve ‌men, women and entities that the ⁠president in the past has had issues with and believes should be investigated. That is his right and indeed it is his duty ⁠to do that, meaning to lead this country," Blanche said during a press conference.

Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday in part over dissatisfaction with the pace and outcome of cases ​Trump has ​demanded.

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Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/acting-doj-chief-blanche-says-190031505.html