Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said to the U.S. Senate he does not question President Donald Trump's authority to pardon individuals charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
This stance signals a Department of Justice alignment with the executive branch's use of clemency for those involved in the Capitol breach. It suggests that the legal leadership under Blanche will not challenge the constitutionality of sweeping pardons for these specific defendants.
Blanche testified during his Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2026. During the proceedings, he emphasized the broad scope of presidential power regarding the granting of pardons.
"I don't question President Trump's authority or his decision to issue these pardons," Blanche said.
Blanche said that the president has the full power to pardon anybody. He noted that his role during the hearing was not to challenge the constitutional authority of the president.
"I'm not here to question the President’s constitutional authority," Blanche said.
The confirmation hearing took place as the Senate reviewed Blanche's appointment to the role of Acting Attorney General. His testimony regarding the Jan. 6 defendants comes amid ongoing legal proceedings and sentencing for various individuals involved in the events at the U.S. Capitol.
“"I don't question President Trump's authority or his decision to issue these pardons."”
Blanche's testimony confirms that the acting leadership of the Department of Justice views the president's pardon power as absolute in the context of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. By refusing to question this authority during a Senate hearing, Blanche is establishing a legal framework where the executive's decision to grant clemency to these defendants will face little to no internal opposition from the nation's top legal office.
