Todd Blanche isn’t suitable for AG. Crapo, Risch should reject him | Opinion

I served as United States attorney for the District of Idaho from 1993 to 2001 and as an attorney/advisor at the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in 2011. Like all Department of Justice employees, l swore an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution.

Last week, I joined more than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees — both careerists and appointees — in signing a letter urging the United States Senate to reject Todd Blanche as our country’s next attorney general. I do not believe that Blanche has the objectivity and independence required of our nation’s chief law enforcement officer.

During my tenure as United States attorney, I hired and promoted assistant United States attorneys without regard to their political affiliation. My sole focus was on the individual’s experience and integrity, and their proven ability to objectively evaluate the facts and follow the law without fear or favor.

I relied on the professional staff to work with agents, analysts, victims and witnesses to thoroughly research pending matters and cut square corners in making the decision to recommend seeking, or declining to seek, indictments.

These career Department of Justice employees worked tirelessly to protect the public by prosecuting violent crime; combating drug trafficking, terrorism and espionage; safeguarding prosperity through antitrust enforcement and financial fraud prosecutions; defending civil rights and pursuing public corruption.

Sadly, under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Blanche, approximately 16,000 employees have left the department. This includes FBI agents, analysts and more than one-quarter of Department of Justice attorneys. Below, I summarize the key points made in the letter submitted to the Senate by more than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees.

Hundreds of career employees have been fired, often without notice and for improper reasons. Some were dismissed because they worked on cases the president opposed, were related to perceived political adversaries, followed due process in immigration matters, declined to pursue politically motivated prosecutions or refused to make false representations in court. Such actions undermine the civil service protections designed to prevent political interference and corruption.

Many others chose to resign. Some lost confidence after experienced leaders were forced out. Others left rather than carry out what they believed were illegal or unethical directives, or because they feared such directives were inevitable. Entire areas of enforcement — including civil rights, environmental protection and public corruption — have been sharply reduced, while offices responsible for tax enforcement, access to justice, drug trafficking prosecutions and community violence reduction have been eliminated.

Blanche has also redirected personnel away from their core responsibilities. Large numbers of FBI personnel have been reassigned to immigration enforcement. FBI, DEA and ATF agents have been diverted from investigations into terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking to patrol Washington, D.C. Assistant U.S. attorneys from across the country have been reassigned to respond to protests and immigration-related litigation, disrupting their existing caseloads.

The department is also struggling to recruit qualified candidates. Positions that once attracted hundreds of applicants now remain vacant. In response, DOJ has lowered hiring standards for prosecutors and FBI agents while offering signing bonuses and retention incentives.

The consequences extend far beyond DOJ itself. When experienced career professionals are driven out, critical work suffers. Communities become less safe, Americans’ rights receive less protection, and national security is weakened.

The culture of fear that has taken hold within the department must end. Respect for career professionals must be restored, and prospective employees must once again believe the Justice Department embodies the principles reflected in its name. Above all, the Attorney General must remain faithful to the rule of law rather than personal loyalty, remembering John Adams’ enduring principle that ours is “a government of laws, not of men.”

For all of these reasons, I regretfully conclude that Todd Blanche is extremely ill-equipped to serve as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, and I urge Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo to reject his nomination.

Betty Hansen Richardson was nominated in 1993 by President Bill Clinton to serve as United States attorney for the District of Idaho. She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate and served in that role until 2001. In 2011, Richardson worked as an attorney/advisor for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in Washington, D.C.