Sisters in Law: How We Would Cross-Examine Todd Blanche At His Confirmation Hearing

Jul 13, 2026 #SistersInLaw

#SistersInLaw criticize Blanche for undermining DOJ independence, acting as Trump’s personal lawyer, and purging career officials who worked on Trump or J6 cases

Key topics:
The historical principles of DOJ independence established after Watergate
The alleged politicization of the DOJ under Trump, illustrated by recent appointments and actions
Critical questions senators should ask Todd Blanche regarding his past decisions and ethical considerations
The significance of forensic-style questioning and the risks of misleading answers
The impact of recent firing of career prosecutors and the ongoing weaponization narratives
The importance of judicial and procedural norms, including conflicts of interest and recusal responsibilities

Timestamps:
00:00 - The focus on TSA dogs reveals our obsession with seemingly trivial stories
00:16 - The social media success story of the government’s lone surviving account under Trump
00:35 - Introduction to the concept of “blanching” as a metaphor for DOJ’s whitening or losing diversity
06:04 - How the lack of DOJ independence has become apparent under Trump’s administration
06:30 - Todd Blanche’s role and the questions senators must address about DOJ norms
07:09 - The importance of DOJ independence and how it’s supposed to work
07:45 - The shift from a norm of prosecutors acting independently to a politicized DOJ
09:12 - The Obama-era commitment to DOJ independence and its erosion in recent years
10:42 - William Barr’s attempt to insulate DOJ decisions from political interference
11:18 - Todd Blanche’s conduct, including inconsistent handling of the Epstein files and politicized investigations
12:17 - The controversy over the Biden administration’s prosecution of the FACE Act
13:46 - The firing of career prosecutors and its implications for DOJ integrity
15:20 - The Watergate scandal as a turning point for DOJ norms and independence
16:46 - How the Supreme Court’s recent rulings undermine reforms meant to preserve fair elections
17:15 - The importance of proper communication and record-keeping during investigations
18:46 - The alleged assertion by Todd Blanche that presidential direction equates to proper DOJ management
20:30 - Four critical questions to challenge Todd Blanche’s commitment to independence
21:10 - The failure to prosecute co-conspirators and protect victims in recent high-profile cases
22:15 - The mishandling of Ghislaine Maxwell’s imprisonment and the need for transparency
23:47 - The value of effective cross-examination and follow-up questions in hearings
25:55 - The importance of having experienced prosecutors question witnesses
26:19 - The dangerous pretext behind firing dedicated prosecutors for political reasons
28:21 - Ethical violations and conflicts of interest involving Todd Blanche’s multiple roles
32:20 - The broader threat posed by the collapse of DOJ norms and standards
33:27 - Public and judicial opposition to Blanche’s nomination, emphasizing the need for independence
34:14 - The significance of resisting politicization to uphold justice and rule of law