Former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb has issued a stark warning about the new acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying his loyalty to President Trump poses a serious threat to the independence of the Justice Department. In an interview over the weekend, Cobb argued that Blanche has demonstrated "total fealty" to the president, raising alarms about the future of legal accountability.
During a Saturday appearance on "Mehdi Unfiltered" with host Mehdi Hasan, Cobb was asked whether Blanche would resist pressure from Trump to manufacture evidence of voter fraud. Cobb responded bluntly: "We're screwed." He elaborated that Blanche's recent actions have solidified concerns about his priorities. "I think Blanche has demonstrated total fealty to the president," Cobb said. "Actually, renewed grounds to be concerned about: his devotion to the president over the rule of law were solidified yesterday when he alerted all the U.S. attorneys' offices in the country that the U.S. attorneys were bound to follow whatever Trump's edicts were, notwithstanding the evidence and cases and whatever their historical, ethical obligations may have been as they perceive them."
Cobb also predicted that Trump would persist in his efforts to recast the January 6 Capitol rioters as heroes, calling it "almost certain" that the president would continue his "passionate effort to rewrite history."
Blanche's confirmation as attorney general came early Saturday morning in a narrow 50-49 Senate vote. His path to confirmation was rocky, with several Republican senators expressing concerns about his independence. A key sticking point was a $1.776 million "anti-weaponization fund" intended to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the federal government. Blanche initially approved the fund but later rescinded it, a move that drew criticism from both sides.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) had voiced doubts about whether Blanche could maintain his independence, given his previous role as Trump's personal attorney. In a Friday statement, she argued that the attorney general must be someone "who will check the worst impulses of this administration." Democrats were more pointed. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) accused Blanche of lying under oath about the timing of the fund's rescission relative to his testimony before senators. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said in a social media post that Blanche's loyalties are clear: "It's with protecting Trump's allies and enabling unprecedented corruption at DOJ."
The controversy extended to Blanche's handling of the DOJ's release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Survivors of Epstein's crimes urged the Senate to reject Blanche's nomination, arguing that the department failed to properly redact sensitive information, putting victims at risk. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) condemned what she called a "complete and total mishandling of the Epstein files," adding that the country deserves "an Attorney General whose first loyalty is to the Constitution, not the President, and I'm going to do everything I can to hold him accountable."
The Senate's confirmation of Blanche comes amid broader tensions over the administration's approach to the Justice Department. Critics, including Senate Democrats who united against Blanche, have warned that his tenure could undermine prosecutorial independence. The Senate's recess following the vote leaves little immediate oversight, but Democrats have pledged to keep pressing for accountability.
Blanche's confirmation also comes as the administration faces mounting challenges on multiple fronts, including a military standoff with Iran and questions about the president's foreign policy. Cobb's remarks underscore a growing concern among legal experts that the DOJ is being reshaped to serve the president's personal and political interests rather than the rule of law.
