Todd Blanche hit with state bar complaint backed by 101 former judges
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Traditionally, when judges step down from the bench, they focus on retirement activities. In the Trump era, things sure are different.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s principal focus in recent weeks has been lining up support on Capitol Hill ahead of his upcoming Senate confirmation hearings, with a specific focus on winning over GOP skeptics. But Donald Trump’s controversial former defense attorney has more troubles than lining up 51 votes.

As this week got underway, Democracy Defenders Fund, Lawyers Defending American Democracy and a group of 101 former federal and state judges filed a complaint against Blanche with the New York State Bar, which included a formal request for an ethics investigation.

The 73-page complaint specifically focused on three areas of alleged misconduct:

  • Blanche’s role in orchestrating the creation of a $1.776 billion compensation fund, widely panned as a “slush fund,” and an IRS audit shield for the president and his family.
  • Blanche’s role in “abusing the investigative and prosecutorial powers” of the Justice Department to target the president’s perceived political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey.
  • Blanche supervising the DOJ’s “flawed response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, including the disclosure of thousands of records containing sensitive victim information.”
  • WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.todayEnglish
    12·
    1 day ago

    I’ve little hope that this will result in any meaningful outcome, considering all the past shit that would’ve destroyed any other administration hasn’t either.

    • MoonMelon@lemmy.mlEnglish
      13·
      1 day ago

      He should absolutely be disbarred but also you don’t have to be barred to be AG. Realistically the best case is that he only lasts a couple Scaramuccis and then this prevents him from slinking back to some chud law firm to be council, or whatever. I think being Trump’s attorney already makes him a pariah amongst any clientele who care. But there’s probably enough fascist lobbyists, colleges, and business to keep this fuckhead employed regardless, especially if he goes to Florida.

      Edit: I just looked him up and he was partner at one of the NYC white shoe law firms that capitulated to Trump’s bullying and agreed to do hundreds of millions of “pro bono” for him. Any attorney who isn’t a total fascist has already resigned. If he gets disbarred in NY maybe he couldn’t go back but who knows, they obviously don’t give a shit about anything.