NAACP Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Todd Blanche Nomination for U.S. Attorney General Ahead of Senate Judiciary Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2026

Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org

WASHINGTON —  Today, the nation's largest civil rights organization, the NAACP, submitted a comprehensive report to Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Dick Durbin, urging the Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to oppose Todd Blanche's nomination for the U.S. Attorney General. The report follows Blanche's disturbing track record as Deputy Attorney General and now as Acting Attorney General, and his close personal ties to President Trump. 

In the report, the NAACP outlines his rocky tenure at the Justice Department, which calls into question his ability to fairly and professionally lead the nation's highest law enforcement agency. The NAACP is deeply concerned that, as Attorney General, Todd Blanche would continue to abandon civil rights enforcement, and abuse his power, in ways that would directly impact our communities for generations to come.  

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO, shared the following statement:

"Todd Blanche has used his position to carry out the personal and political bidding of the president, at the literal expense of the American people. From supporting Trump's unlawful $1.8 billion slush fund to covering up the Epstein Files, he is unqualified and cannot be trusted to prioritize or protect us. We're at a pivotal point in our nation, where we face attack from every angle, and we must stand against unprincipled, so-called leaders who are personally loyal to a corrupt president. 

"This country relies on checks and balances on power. We urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to make the right decision to preserve our democracy and our freedom. We must reject Blanche and appoint an Attorney General who will prioritize the rights of Americans and uphold the U.S. Constitution, not attack this country's most vulnerable communities."

The NAACP's report outlines a host of concerns regarding Todd Blanche's questionable and damaging actions during his time as Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General.

On his watch, the Justice Department has:

• Eviscerated decades of progress in the civil rights sphere, and weaponized voting rights laws to take actions that are harmful to democracy
• Turned a blind eye to police misconduct and hate crimes to the peril of vulnerable communities
• Ignored gross violations of law at the hands of ICE 
• Fully abandoned the business of enforcing our federal civil rights laws
• Weaponized the agency to target and exploit vulnerable communities, and pursued baseless prosecutions of public officials
• And more.

The report provides additional examples of his reckless decision making such as failing to hold law enforcement accountable at the expense of Black lives, targeting voters, promoting hostility to diversity and fairness through the so-called "Civil Rights Fraud Initiative," failing to confront hate crimes, targeting civil rights organizations focused on ending hate crimes, pardoning people with ties to hate organizations, and lastly, abandoning fair enforcement of civil rights laws.

The NAACP fiercely opposes any individual for the position of Attorney General who has an established record of opposing the very civil rights, civil liberties, or human rights laws, policies, and programs for which they would be responsible for enforcing. We call on congressional leaders to deny the confirmation of Todd Blanche to serve as U.S. Attorney General, as he has proven to be harmful to the people of the United States. The full report is available here.

###

About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.