Blanchard has been appointed to lead the Justice Department since Attorney General Pam Bondi was dismissed in April. [1] This appointment has sparked controversy as some question whether Blanchard’s ties to former President Donald Trump could compromise his or her impartiality. The situation is further complicated by ongoing investigations into Trump's IRS settlement, Jeffrey Epstein files, and pardons granted on January 6. [1][2] [1] Yahoo.com (2026-08-01 03:46) [2] New York Post (2026-07-30 15:23)