US Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that the Justice Department would defend President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration if the incoming Democratic-led Congress moves against them.
Blanche made the remarks on CNN after Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, who is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, called on Trump's allies to « lawyer up » following Republicans' defeat in the midterm election.
Trump had earlier ordered the Justice Department to investigate his Democratic opponents, calling them « extortionists ». Blanche said investigative requests already made by Democrats were a threat to members of the administration and to companies, and that criminal investigations of Democrats were possible.
Blanche was particularly critical of the Democratic response to Trump's appointment of Stephen Miller, architect of the president's hardline border policy, as his new chief of staff. « If they try to come after Stephen Miller... of course the Department of Justice will be there to defend him, » he said. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer, said that defending the administration in court was part of his job.
Garcia said Congress is responsible for oversight of the executive branch and accused Blanche of being singularly focused on protecting the president and his administration. He said Democrats would not be intimidated, and that « the days of us not fighting back are over ». Asked whether he would continue if he were himself investigated by the Justice Department, Garcia replied: « They can come after us however they want. We're not going to be intimidated. »
Democrats have also made clear that impeachment is an option. A survey cited by The AP Voter Poll of more than 100,000 midterm voters found that about seven in ten voters nationally say Congress is not doing enough to check the presidency. The early rhetoric sets up a confrontation that is likely to define the remaining two years of Trump's term and to test the power of Congress to act as a check on the White House.