Blanche Says DOJ Is Not Probing Democrats’ Oversight Remarks

On November 12, Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department had no active criminal investigations into comments by senators or representatives about plans to scrutinize the Trump administration. Earlier in the week, the White House had cautioned Democrats that probing the administration might amount to a crime. Blanche said he had not concluded that any lawmakers’ remarks crossed that line.

Blanche Says No DOJ Cases Over Democrats’ Oversight Speech

The Justice Department says it is not investigating Democrats for their words about congressional oversight, but the administration’s warnings are still raising concerns about pressure on lawmakers. On November 12, Attorney General Todd Blanche said no criminal inquiry was underway into congressional remarks, and acknowledged that he did not believe the threshold for criminal conduct had been crossed.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump again called for six lawmakers to be prosecuted over a video urging military and intelligence personnel not to follow unlawful orders. A federal grand jury in Washington had unanimously rejected charges against them earlier this year. One of the six, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, also received a demand for records after Trump directed DOJ to investigate her remarks at a school.

The scrutiny extends to Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s examination of contributors connected with the White House ballroom project. A Texas federal prosecutor sent Blumenthal a letter seeking preservation of records and alleging harassment; Blumenthal said he would continue. Blanche praised the prosecutor but did not explain why a Texas office was handling an inquiry involving a Connecticut senator. The clash puts congressional oversight and protected political speech at the center of a widening dispute.

Blanche Says Democrats’ Oversight Talk Has Not Become Criminal

Attorney General Todd Blanche drew a distinction between heated political speech and criminal conduct on November 12, saying the Justice Department had no criminal investigations into congressional Democrats’ remarks and that no line had been crossed. His comments came as Democrats, newly in control of both chambers after last week’s midterms, prepare to scrutinize the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump again called for six lawmakers to face prosecution over a video telling intelligence and military personnel not to obey unlawful orders. A federal grand jury had unanimously rejected charges against the lawmakers earlier this year. Blanche said free speech is protected but can become criminal if criticism turns into a threat.

The administration has also questioned Democrats’ investigations. A Texas federal prosecutor demanded Sen. Richard Blumenthal preserve records tied to his review of contributors connected with the White House ballroom project, alleging harassment of citizens. Blumenthal said he would not be intimidated and would continue. Blanche called the prosecutor a strong U.S. attorney, while saying DOJ leadership works with U.S. attorneys on investigations. The competing claims leave the boundary between legitimate oversight and unlawful threats at the heart of the dispute.