Todd Blanche is pushing back against claims that his close relationship with Donald Trump makes him little more than the president's personal legal servant, insisting that his role as attorney general is to uphold the law rather than simply follow White House wishes. Critics have claimed that his transition from Trump's personal defence lawyer to the nation's top law enforcement official has raised fundamental questions about his independence.
Speaking in his first major public appearances after winning Senate confirmation, Blanche has sought to draw a line between his former work for Trump and his current responsibilities at the Justice Department. He has argued that being trusted by the president does not make him a 'yes man' and that his job requires him to provide independent legal counsel.
