Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing growing scrutiny from congressional Democrats, with two lawmakers publicly expressing support for impeaching the top Justice Department official when their party takes control of the House in January.
The development comes as Democrats prepare to launch investigations into the Trump administration, with particular attention focused on the Justice Department and allegations that federal law enforcement has been used to pursue the president’s political opponents.
Rep. Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, raised the possibility of impeaching Blanche during an appearance on The Dan Abrams Show this week.
Johnson argued that the attorney general’s actions warrant congressional intervention, going so far as to suggest he should be removed from office.
The congressman said he personally believes Blanche’s conduct demands that he be “impeached, and convicted and removed from office.”
“That’s my personal opinion,” Johnson explained.
“I think his efforts to undermine the rule of law can’t go unaddressed,” he added.
The comments marked a direct challenge to Blanche, a longtime Trump ally and former federal prosecutor who now leads the Justice Department.
But Johnson is not the only Democrat expressing support for impeachment.
Rep. Deborah Ross was also questioned about Blanche during the same program and indicated that she agreed with Johnson’s position.
However, Ross suggested that Democrats should prioritize a different member of Trump’s Cabinet before pursuing the attorney general.
“100 percent,” Ross responded when asked whether she supported impeaching Blanche.
“But I think we should start with Hegseth,” she added.
Her remarks placed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the center of another potential impeachment confrontation.
Hegseth has faced mounting criticism from lawmakers over his handling of military operations, particularly the administration’s war with Iran.
Some members of Congress have accused the defense secretary of failing to provide sufficient information about military strategy and Iranian attacks against American bases in the region.
The controversy has extended beyond Democratic lawmakers.
Outgoing Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an outspoken critic of Trump, has suggested that he could introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth as early as next week.
Meanwhile, outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has publicly questioned Hegseth’s ability to lead the Pentagon.
Tillis previously described his vote to confirm Hegseth as the worst decision of his professional career.
Speaking with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, the senator claimed that other congressional leaders shared concerns about the defense secretary’s performance.
Hegseth “is just not the right guy for the job,” Tillis said.
According to the Daily Mail, a White House insider familiar with Trump’s conversations also claimed that the president had consulted several close advisers about whether to remove Hegseth.
The report does not establish that Trump has decided to dismiss him.
While Hegseth faces pressure from both parties, Blanche’s situation presents a different political challenge.
Democrats have signaled that they intend to investigate various Justice Department actions after taking control of the House.
However, pursuing impeachment proceedings against the attorney general could create divisions within the Democratic caucus before the party begins its new congressional term.
The impeachment process requires the House to approve charges against a federal official, followed by a Senate trial.
Conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote in the Senate, creating a substantial obstacle to removing a Cabinet member.
Congress has previously attempted to impeach senior administration officials.
In 2024, the Republican-controlled House impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but the Senate dismissed the charges without conducting a full trial.
No Cabinet secretary has been removed from office through an impeachment conviction, per the Daily Mail.
For now, Johnson and Ross have expressed their personal support for impeaching Blanche, but no formal impeachment proceeding against him has been announced.
It also remains unclear how many Democrats would support such an effort or whether party leadership would be willing to pursue it.
Still, the lawmakers’ remarks provide an early indication of the scrutiny Trump’s administration could face when Democrats assume control of the House.
With Blanche and Hegseth both drawing criticism, congressional Democrats are already weighing how aggressively to confront the president’s Cabinet.
Whether those discussions develop into formal impeachment proceedings remains an open question as Washington prepares for the new Congress.
