{"id":45951,"date":"2026-08-15T05:04:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=45951"},"modified":"2026-08-15T05:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:04:36","slug":"beyond-inappropriate-attorney-general-todd-blanche-ripped-for-speaking-at-rally-to-endorse-gop-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=45951","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Beyond Inappropriate\u2019: Attorney General Todd Blanche Ripped for Speaking at Rally to Endorse GOP Candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5751308\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5751308\" class=\"wp-image-5751308 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-14-at-7-26-12-PM-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Todd Blanche\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1410\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5751308\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot via @livenowfox on YouTube<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Attorney General <strong>Todd Blanche<\/strong> faced a wave of online criticism Friday after speaking at a rally held by President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> to endorse a Republican gubernatorial candidate.<\/p>\n<p>The president brought both Blanche and FBI Director <strong>Kash Patel<\/strong> to Long Island, where all three members of the administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-boasts-young-beautiful-girls-come-to-white-house-to-thank-him-for-lowering-crime\/\">spoke<\/a> to a crowd of law enforcement officials. The event was held in support of Nassau County Executive <strong>Bruce Blakeman<\/strong>, the Republican candidate for New York governor.<\/p>\n<p>Trump made a point of expressing his excitement over Blanche\u2019s appearance, reminding the audience that he had been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/senate-votes-before-sunrise-to-confirm-todd-blanche-as-u-s-attorney-general\/\">confirmed<\/a> to the role just last weekend. He&#8217;s served as Acting Attorney General since April, when Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/pam-bondi-speaks-out-for-first-time-after-doj-ousting-moving-to-an-important-private-sector-role-i-am-thrilled-about\/\">fired<\/a> <strong>Pam Bondi<\/strong> in a dispute over the handling of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\">FBI files<\/a> on <strong>Jeffrey Epstein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, the internet wasted no time pointing out what many saw as a conflict of interest. MS NOW columnist <strong>Michael A. Cohen\u00a0<\/strong>wrote on X Friday, &#8220;It\u2019s beyond inappropriate for the Attorney General even to attend a political rally.&#8221; Chuck Todd chimed in, jokingly referencing former Attorney General <strong>Merrick Garland<\/strong> and New York Governor <strong>Kathy Hochul<\/strong>, and writing, Trying to remember what Merrick Garland\u2019s rally speech was like for Kathy Hochul in 2022\u2026&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Read a sample of more reactions below:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"421d2e7be55db6bf0204fc867ddc55ce\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It\u2019s beyond inappropriate for the Attorney General even to attend a political rally <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PXDVzPVRQ5\">https:\/\/t.co\/PXDVzPVRQ5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMP\u2019S FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/speechboy71\/status\/2088375438238196192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"80df31924413ced78c34155ab24013e9\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Another day, another low in the politicization of the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>Just a week after his confirmation as attorney general, Todd Blanche spoke at a political rally and appeared to endorse Bruce Blakeman, the GOP&#039;s nominee for New York governor. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5RZr5GUegJ\">https:\/\/t.co\/5RZr5GUegJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matthew Kupfer (@Matthew_Kupfer) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Matthew_Kupfer\/status\/2088389598946676925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"c7748077075fb8b130ad17d07df61585\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#039;s like they think we&#039;re stupid. <\/p>\n<p>This is, of course, just not true. It depends on whether the criminals are for or against the president. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/akRBGqMIpc\">https:\/\/t.co\/akRBGqMIpc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/greggnunziata\/status\/2088401042299896109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"36d00ad151f6105a44070d2a64dfaacc\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trying to remember what Merrick Garland\u2019s rally speech was like for Kathy Hochul in 2022\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/q1v8KTGApn\">https:\/\/t.co\/q1v8KTGApn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/chucktodd\/status\/2088350834497146898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"1076238b2510b3f8c24b3cfa7cb1b68d\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He\u2019s supposed to be the Attorney General. He\u2019s not supposed to have anything to do with partisan politics. This is so fucking wrong.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f447.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc47\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zd37gMVPaH\">pic.twitter.com\/zd37gMVPaH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WalshFreedom\/status\/2088365071579877673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"dcb900a15369e61943b3d4c9e2233909\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">it is remarkable how sleazy Todd Blanche is considering how decent people once respected him <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6FgtdNmRxM\">https:\/\/t.co\/6FgtdNmRxM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnJHarwood\/status\/2088385148953768326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"e359cb73fc98b69ba6b81b1df616f921\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: In a clear politicization of the DOJ, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared to endorse a Republican candidate for New York governor during a political rally.<\/p>\n<p>The comments mark a break from long-standing norms that the attorney general maintains strict neutrality to\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DemocracyDocket\/status\/2088372059906756898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"1ac4a85f6f2c2f979cfa47cd0daba64f\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Attorney General doing a campaign rally in NY during the middle of the work day. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/D824gAOkk2\">https:\/\/t.co\/D824gAOkk2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RonFilipkowski\/status\/2088356548640702770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"cb9675ba7623a88c00aeedc17f1705f3\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Attorneys General simply do not do this. That office is supposed to be the least political in the cabinet! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eBG0IWhsKu\">https:\/\/t.co\/eBG0IWhsKu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAmSophiaNelson\/status\/2088382116585222550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"7b791006f9824d050b24e4970c84624c\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There is no law in Donald Trump&#039;s America! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HBpR2WD1OY\">https:\/\/t.co\/HBpR2WD1OY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dean Baker (@DeanBaker13) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DeanBaker13\/status\/2088357189174063316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"db337ee8a9ae3e52ba898b4b891ee3a8\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Finally we no longer have the politicization of the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>Now they have carte Blanche. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/23TNorggSh\">https:\/\/t.co\/23TNorggSh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RalstonReports\/status\/2088367664263815490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"7e93eff35cccb2d99c5c5ca80eee03fd\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is wildly unethical. Blanche is opposing counsel to Donald Trump in a case where Trump is seeking billions of taxpayer money as damages. And here he is totally on his side. Never mind, the Hatch Act all the DOJ policy violations. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rGDYIF2fsR\">https:\/\/t.co\/rGDYIF2fsR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; John Jackson (@hissgoescobra) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hissgoescobra\/status\/2088341054357684437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not to mention, others took issue with the contents of his speech itself. While up at the podium on Friday, Blanche vowed that under his lead, &#8220;If anybody touches a federal law enforcement officer in any way inappropriate, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.&#8221; Users were quick to point out a level of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.padilla.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/padilla-schiff-senate-judiciary-democrats-press-todd-blanche-on-continued-abuse-of-taxpayer-funds-to-reward-trump-allies-january-6-insurrectionists\/\">hypocrisy<\/a>, though, with Rep. <strong>Don<\/strong> <strong>Beyer<\/strong> (D-VA), writing, &#8220;Todd Blanche oversaw the pardons of the violent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/tag\/january-6\/\">J6 attackers<\/a> who wounded scores of police officers, including many who were sent to the hospital.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Read a sample of this new angle of reactions below:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"8036e2ed50c5f26251bcc44a5e7f8c50\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Todd Blanche oversaw the pardons of the violent J6 attackers who wounded scores of police officers, including many who were sent to the hospital.<\/p>\n<p>People he put back on the street have already engaged in violent and disgusting crimes. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OFSKDO8xYx\">https:\/\/t.co\/OFSKDO8xYx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepDonBeyer\/status\/2088369433794211894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"169ed7e768824a16abb2cb6756e08030\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">*Terms and conditions apply <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u659yujWqi\">https:\/\/t.co\/u659yujWqi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Catherine Rampell (@crampell) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/crampell\/status\/2088380315093868935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"0a56f7859f402bda46c6ed11259c8d51\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">(Does not apply to January 6 rioters who attacked police at the U.S. Capitol) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/h72o4mWh10\">https:\/\/t.co\/h72o4mWh10<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamiedupree\/status\/2088344084758876332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/online\/beyond-inappropriate-attorney-general-todd-blanche-ripped-for-speaking-at-rally-to-endorse-gop-candidate\/\">\u2018Beyond Inappropriate\u2019: Attorney General Todd Blanche Ripped for Speaking at Rally to Endorse GOP Candidate<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\">Mediaite<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Screenshot via @livenowfox on YouTube Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a wave of online criticism Friday after speaking at a rally held by President Donald Trump to endorse a Republican gubernatorial candidate. The president brought both Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to Long Island, where all three members of the administration spoke to a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-14-at-7-26-12-PM-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45951\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}