Politics

Justice Department faces scrutiny as Democrats plan investigations

Associated Press reports Attorney General Todd Blanche vows the department will press the administration's agenda as Democrats plan inquiries.

Published Nov 13, 2026 · 16:10 UTC3 reports

The short version

Associated Press reports that Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Justice Department will cooperate with Congress but not back down from the president's agenda.[Associated Press]
Democrats plan inquiries into department actions, and Trump accused them of extortion and ordered the attorney general to investigate.[Associated Press]
According to people familiar with a call, aide Aakash Singh told prosecutors to prepare for a 'wartime' footing; the department says that reference concerned public safety.[Associated Press]
The White House warned that expected congressional inquiries may amount to criminality, and a U.S. attorney ordered Sen. Richard Blumenthal to preserve records; Blumenthal said he would not be intimidated.[Associated Press]

Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department will cooperate with Congress but will not back down from the president's agenda.[Associated Press]
In a Fox News interview, Blanche said President Trump has two years left in the administration and it would be used effectively.[Associated Press]
According to people familiar with a call with U.S. attorneys, aide Aakash Singh told prosecutors to prepare for a heightened, wartime-style posture and suggested more may be pushed out after postelection departures.[Associated Press]
The Justice Department said the reference related to public safety, citing newly elected state and local leaders who are no longer interested in partnering with federal law enforcement.[Associated Press]
President Trump accused Democrats of extortion and ordered the attorney general to conduct an investigation.[Associated Press]
In a letter from counsel Will Scharf, the White House said expected congressional inquiries may amount to blatant criminality.[Associated Press]
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz sent Sen. Richard Blumenthal a warning letter ordering him to preserve records related to his inquiry into funding for the White House ballroom.[Associated Press]
Blumenthal responded that he would not be intimidated.[Associated Press]

Whether more U.S. attorneys will be pushed out is unconfirmed; the claim rests on people familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity.[Associated Press]
The White House's criminality warning and the Justice Department's public-safety explanation are contested positions, and the report does not establish either one.[Associated Press]
This account comes from a single outlet, Associated Press, and no independent confirmation was provided.[Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.