Attorney General Todd Blanche has faced growing criticism over his frequent appearances at political events, which some say blur the traditional line between federal law enforcement and politics. Recently, his speeches at a Republican midterm convention and a rally supporting a Senate candidate in North Carolina have raised concerns about the Justice Department’s impartiality. Critics argue that such appearances may undermine public trust in law enforcement decisions by suggesting potential political influence. Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, noted that Blanche’s actions could support claims that the Justice Department is overly politicized. Traditionally, attorneys general have avoided political rallies and maintained a distance from the White House to avoid any appearance of election interference and to ensure the perception of impartiality in legal enforcement. Blanche, who previously served as a personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump, has deviated from these norms. He has actively defended Trump’s interests within the department, which initiated two criminal cases against Trump under President Joe Biden. Blanche has dismissed claims that the agency has been politicized under the Trump administration and denied allegations of improper White House involvement in departmental decisions. In his political appearances, Blanche has highlighted the administration’s efforts to reduce violent crime, lower illegal border crossings, and combat drug trafficking. During a White House press briefing, he fielded questions on a range of topics, including the Iran war. At a North Carolina event for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, he stated that more people are safer today than two years ago and credited President Trump and Vice President Vance for this improvement. The Justice Department has clarified that Blanche’s political appearances are made in his personal capacity and do not involve official agency business or policies. A spokesperson noted that these events are reviewed and approved by the department’s ethics officials and that Blanche covers general administration efforts rather than specific legal matters. Travel expenses for these events are also covered by Blanche himself, in line with federal guidelines. Blanche has defended his attendance at a Long Island event where former President Trump aimed to support Republican candidates. The ethics group Public Citizen filed a complaint, alleging that Blanche violated a law restricting political activities by government employees. Blanche told the Associated Press that he was simply thanking law enforcement for their work and dismissed the criticism as absurd. He emphasized that he was not endorsing political candidates but rather discussing the work of President Trump. Federal law and Justice Department policy restrict political activity for government officials. The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from using their official positions to influence election outcomes, including endorsing candidates. However, watchdog organizations argue that the law is a weak deterrent and that enforcement remains inconsistent. In 2022, the Justice Department tightened restrictions on staff attending political events after then-U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins attended a fundraiser with first lady Jill Biden. These restrictions were later reversed by former Attorney General Pam Bondi. Rollins resigned in 2023 after facing allegations of misconduct. Before these changes, department guidelines allowed political appointees to attend events in a personal capacity, provided they acted passively and obtained prior approval. Under President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland banned attendance at fundraisers and campaign events to ensure that politics would not affect how laws are enforced.