Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was critiqued during a lengthy confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday for signing onto a letter that urged the U.S. Senate to reject his confirmation — a proceeding that saw no references to the credibility crisis happening under Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros’ watch.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also took aim at Lightfoot’s 2019 primary election loss — and accused the former federal prosecutor and former chair of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force of believing “cops are a bigger problem than criminals.” Blanche jumped onto the criticism, saying Lightfoot doesn’t support the Trump administration’s agenda of “making America safe again.”
“Would you put her even in charge of a ham sandwich?” Kennedy asked Blanche during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington.
The acting attorney general responded, “I don’t believe she should be any part of this administration.” Kennedy also pointed out that “the people in Chicago apparently agree,” and detailed her 16% primary election result in 2019.
Lightfoot quickly responded to Kennedy’s remark.
“Consider the source: an unrepentant racist remarks on the tenure of a Black female former mayor of the third largest city in the country. What do you think is going to come out of his mouth? A whole lot of ignorance,” Lightfoot said.
The former mayor also accused Kennedy and Blanche of believing “in the weaponizing of law enforcement forces against communities.”
“These comments underscore why Blanche is wholly unqualified to hold the title that he does, let alone to be confirmed as permanent U.S. Attorney General,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “We can see his handiwork in the myriad problems marked by deaths, false arrest and unconstitutional actions all across the country under this regime.”
Kennedy was referencing Lightfoot’s signature on a July 7 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin. It was notable that Lightfoot’s signature was highlighted, since she is one of hundreds of former Justice Department career employees and appointees who signed onto that letter.
“The culture of fear Blanche has instilled within DOJ’s workforce must end. Respect for career professionals must return. Would-be job applicants need to believe the Justice Department lives up to the virtue in its name. And instead of exhibiting fealty to the president, the Attorney General must heed John Adams’ admonition that our republic remains a “government of laws, not of men,” they wrote in the letter. “For the sake of the institution where we once proudly served, we urge you to reject Todd Blanche’s nomination.”
Durbin focused on questioning Blanche about the Jeffrey Epstein files and his previous supportive comments about the now-defunct Jan. 6 Anti-Weaponization Fund. He also pressed Blanche to meet with Epstein survivors, some of whom attended the hearing. Durbin also accused Blanche of turning the Justice Department into “a shield for the president and his MAGA cronies and a sword to attack anyone who crosses him.”
“In less than 18 months at the Department of Justice, you have shown you are first and foremost, still President Trump’s personal attorney. Your tenure can be summed up in just four words: ‘I love you sir.’ This was your response when asked what you would say to President Trump,” Durbin said. “This nation deserves an attorney general who loves the Constitution more than he loves the president. An attorney general who is focused on keeping Americans safe and combating corruption — not satisfying the grifter-in-chief’s personal grievances and filling his bank accounts.”
There were no references to the apparent prosecutorial misconduct within the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago which has led to the dismissal of high-profile cases, and to more than 100 former federal prosecutors accusing Boutros of a failure of leadership. The Chicago City Council and Sens. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have also called for his resignation.
Boutros’ credibility crisis began on May 21, after he permanently dropped charges against a group of Operation Midway Blitz protesters known as the “Broadview Six” over revelations of misconduct by his staff. More cases are now collapsing, judges want answers and defense attorneys are calling for an investigation — and the possible prosecution — of Boutros.
The “Broadview Six” proceedings were led by longtime Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg. Mecklenburg left the U.S. attorney’s office in February for a temporary detail with the Senate Judiciary Committee but was terminated from that role in late May. The revelations led Boutros’ office and others to begin looking into other Mecklenburg prosecutions. Allegations of similar misconduct quickly surfaced. Mecklenburg’s most notable cases, aside from “Broadview Six,” include a pair of fraud prosecutions aimed at former Loretto Hospital chief financial officer Anosh Ahmed.
Contributing: Jon Seidel