Attorney General Blanche Says Some Scenarios Could Involve Election Interference

Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a direct question about whether the Justice Department might step in to stop states from certifying the midterm election results. He responded that, in theory, any scenario could exist, but refused to make definitive predictions about future conduct. Blanche asserted that the department does not plan to improperly interfere with elections or the certification process, yet he did not categorically rule out any circumstances.

The comments were made less than two weeks before the midterms, at a time when Democrats are gaining momentum and President Donald Trump is still alleging fraud in the 2020 race. Trump has also attacked mail voting and claimed that certain Democratic victories, such as Senator Jon Ossoff’s, were illegitimate. The remarks have prompted warnings from voting-rights groups and national security officials that the administration could try to influence outcomes, while legal scholars say past attempts to subvert elections have failed.