{"id":4784,"date":"2026-07-13T06:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2026-07-13T06:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:09:48","slug":"1200-doj-alumni-opposing-todd-blanche-confirmation-called-partisan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=4784","title":{"rendered":"1,200 DOJ alumni opposing Todd Blanche confirmation called partisan"},"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>\n<div data-layout-index=\"4\" class=\"featured featured-video video-ct\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"contain\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">  <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"title\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6396046401112\" data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_featured-video_5_1\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">Lawmakers expected to press Blanche on Comey indictment during Senate hearing<\/a><\/h4>\n<p data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill, where he is likely to face questions about high-profile cases. This includes the second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, sparked by his Instagram post &#8217;86 47&#8242;. Democrats are expected to criticize Blanche&#8217;s conduct and the Department of Justice&#8217;s direction under his leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Washington D.C.&#8217;s entrenched politicos sprang into action this week before key <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212125\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/hearings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">confirmation hearings in the<\/a> U.S. Senate to try and sink President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee for attorney general.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Roughly 1,200 Department of Justice (DOJ) alumni signed off on a letter on Tuesday sent to high-ranking Senate Judiciary Committee leaders demanding they reject elevating Acting Attorney General <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/person\/b\/todd-blanche\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Todd Blanche<\/a> as he prepares for confirmation hearings next week on July 15 and 16.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Blanche, who previously served as former AG Pam Bondi&#8217;s No. 2, has been tapped by the 47th president to do the job permanently, sending the former bureaucrats into a frenzy.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/931\/523\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1862\/1046\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720\/405\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1440\/810\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/todd-blanche-july-1.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Todd Blanche\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks as FBI director Kash Patel listens during a news conference at the Department of Justice, July 1, 2026, in Washington.<\/span> <span>(AP Photo\/Manuel Balce Ceneta)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212127\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-says-he-nominate-acting-ag-todd-blanche-permanently-lead-justice-department\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOMINATE ACTING AG TODD BLANCHE TO PERMANENTLY LEAD JUSTICE DEPARTMENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The signatories of the letter trying to stop the process bill themselves as former DOJ employees from Republican and Democratic administrations, which is true. But even a cursory look at some of the names reveals the letter&#8217;s true hyperpartisan nature.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Here are a few:<\/p>\n<ul data-layout-index=\"5\">\n<li>Lori Lightfoot, the former mayor of Chicago and a far-left\u00a0Democrat\u00a0with a long history of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/lightfoot-criticizes-trumps-twitter-attack-on-baltimore-\/5428393\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">anti-Trump<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.wttw.com\/2020\/05\/29\/lightfoot-blasts-trump-threatening-those-protesting-death-george-floyd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">rhetoric<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>JP Cooney, an ex-prosecutor and Democratic congressional candidate who served as Jack Smith\u2019s top deputy during Smith\u2019s special counsel investigation into President Trump over later-dismissed criminal charges. He&#8217;s running his campaign on the grounds that he &#8220;spent [his] career standing up to powerful people and holding them accountable, including Donald Trump.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Aaron\u00a0Zelinsky, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wypr.org\/show\/midday\/2025-01-28\/a-former-federal-prosecutor-on-what-a-new-dept-of-justice-means-for-maryland-and-the-rule-of-law?fbclid=IwY2xjawIHNEhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWOeDPEyqX8uBEbqPV76dp-cCMw0yLZ3WYYej3xJa0xQs7NA6D3KGg8rkA_aem_uMqw15J_Ds7dT0ZxbfYU8A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">served<\/a>\u00a0as assistant special counsel to <a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.com\/category\/person\/robert-mueller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">former FBI director Robert Mueller<\/a> during Russiagate, which evidence now suggests was a &#8220;manufactured&#8221; Obama-era intelligence fabrication to smear Trump.<\/li>\n<li>Robert Turkavage, who ran for Congress as a Democrat in New Jersey.<\/li>\n<li>Sara Zdeb, who worked as chief oversight counsel for Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Durbin is currently the Senate Judiciary Committee&#8217;s ranking member.<\/li>\n<li>Candice Cook, the former <a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.com\/politics\/legal-war-trumps-agenda-gains-firepower-federal-lawyers-defect-democrats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DOJ chief diversity and inclusion officer<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Sam Bagenstos, a political appointee in both the Biden and Obama administrations with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracynow.org\/appearances\/sam_bagenstos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">history<\/a> of bashing Trump and who also brags about his progressive bona fides on his University of Michigan Law <a href=\"https:\/\/michigan.law.umich.edu\/faculty-and-scholarship\/our-faculty\/samuel-r-bagenstos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">biography page<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/343\/192\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/686\/384\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/672\/378\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/1344\/756\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/931\/523\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/1862\/1046\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/720\/405\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/1440\/810\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/1200\/675\/MAYOR-LORI-LIGHTFOOT-RANDI-WEINGARTEN.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Mayor Lori Lightfoot\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined &#8220;CNN This Morning&#8221; on Monday to discuss her fight against teachers unions during the pandemic.<\/span> <span>(Screenshot\/CNN\/CNNThisMorning)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212128\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/unearthed-doj-emails-expose-turmoil-over-biden-era-memo-urging-crackdown-parents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>UNEARTHED DOJ EMAILS EXPOSE TURMOIL OVER BIDEN-ERA MEMO URGING CRACKDOWN ON PARENTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;This list is a who&#8217;s who of partisan activists, including liberal politicians such as former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who saw crime drastically rise under her tenure, Trump impeachment witness Pamela Karlan, and multiple former disgruntled Biden administration officials, some of whom were directly involved in the weaponization of the Department,&#8221; a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital of the letter.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212129\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/executive\/white-house\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">former White House official<\/a> quipped that, &#8220;It looks like they passed a petition around the MS NOW green room.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/343\/192\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/686\/384\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/672\/378\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1344\/756\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/931\/523\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1862\/1046\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/720\/405\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1440\/810\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1200\/675\/special-counsel-jack-smith.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Jack Smith\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Saul Loeb\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Trump DOJ says Blanche has the support of law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Law enforcement throughout the nation supports the nomination of Acting Attorney General Blanche, including the Major Cities Chiefs Association, representing police leadership in dozens of major U.S. cities; the International Association of Chiefs of Police, representing tens of thousands of law enforcement leaders worldwide; and the Major County Sheriffs of America, representing hundreds of the nation&#8217;s largest sheriffs&#8217; offices,&#8221; the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The letter itself states that as former DOJ employees, the signatories take seriously their &#8220;oath to support and defend the Constitution, not the occupant of the White House.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">It complains that Blanche has fired hundreds of DOJ employees, some of whom, they say, were fired for &#8220;having worked on cases the President didn\u2019t like.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The consequences of Blanche\u2019s attacks on DOJ\u2019s apolitical workforce radiate beyond the halls of Main Justice, affecting the entire country,&#8221; the letter says. &#8220;They\u2019ve meant that much of the department\u2019s vital work isn\u2019t being done, or isn\u2019t being done as well \u2013 leaving communities less safe, Americans\u2019 rights less protected, and our national security more vulnerable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/343\/192\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/686\/384\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/672\/378\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1344\/756\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/931\/523\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1862\/1046\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/720\/405\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1440\/810\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1200\/675\/2025-02-13t193851z_1495634365_rc25xy91cbbl_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-justice-firings-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"U.S. Justice Department logo is seen at Justice Department headquarters in Washington\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A U.S. Justice Department logo in the department&#8217;s headquarters briefing room before a news conference in Washington, Jan. 24, 2023.<\/span> <span>(Reuters\/Kevin Lamarque\/File Photo)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">But the note is eerily reminiscent of another widely-covered stunt that turned out to be a political operation to protect <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3212130\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/joe-biden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">then-presidential candidate Joe Biden<\/a> during his 2020 election bid.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In that instance, 51 former intelligence officials, including known Trump adversaries former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan, penned a letter to the public claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop scandal appeared to be a foreign intelligence operation.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The contents of Hunter Biden\u2019s personal computer, published in October 2020 by the New York Post, contained shocking videos and photos of drug use, lewd sex acts, and sensitive business communications. It eventually was dubbed the &#8220;laptop from hell&#8221; due to the public relations nightmare it caused for the Biden campaign.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The former intelligence officials immediately jumped to Biden&#8217;s defense, claiming the letter had &#8220;all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/343\/192\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/686\/384\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/672\/378\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1344\/756\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/931\/523\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1862\/1046\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/720\/405\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1440\/810\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1200\/675\/Hunter-Biden-Delaware-Trial-Day-4_04.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen Biden arrive at federal court\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Hunter Biden arrives at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 6, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware, for his trial on felony gun charges.<\/span> <span>(Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Such an operation would be consistent with some of the key methods Russia has used in its now multi-year operation to interfere in our democracy \u2014 the hacking (via cyber-operations) and the dumping of accurate information or the distribution of inaccurate or misinformation,&#8221; the letter said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Mainstream news outlets ran with the letter, downplaying the scandal.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">By early 2022, many of those same news outlets were forced to report that the emails and files from the laptop were, in fact, authentic after federal investigators looked into the matter.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/343\/192\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/686\/384\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/672\/378\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/931\/523\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/720\/405\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-1243025154.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"James Clapper Korea\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, center, at the White House on Sept. 7, 2022.<\/span> <span>(Al Drago\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Clapper was one of the few signatories who answered for the bogus Russian intelligence claim, but he stood by the letter, claiming the ex-intel crowd never said for sure that the laptop was a Russian operation.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Yes, I stand by the statement made AT THE TIME, and would call attention to its 5th paragraph,&#8221; he told The New York Post. &#8220;I think sounding such a cautionary note AT THE TIME was appropriate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">So it appears the latest actions are just a repeat of the same playbook Democrats have been using to push their agenda against Trump.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Peter D&#8217;Abrosca is a politics reporter at Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawmakers expected to press Blanche on Comey indictment during Senate hearing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill, where he is likely to face questions about high-profile cases. This includes the second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, sparked by his Instagram post &#8217;86 47&#8242;. Democrats are expected to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/todd-blanche-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784","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=4784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}