Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche says justice department advised White House on Iran, vows probe into leaks

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department has provided counsel to the White House on Iran and warned that authorities will investigate leaks of classified information that could put soldiers or intelligence agents at risk.

“We will always investigate leaks of classified information that put soldiers or agents at risk,” Blanche said, outlining the department’s stance as tensions surrounding Iran continue to draw scrutiny in Washington.

Blanche made the remarks during a press conference, his first extended comments since being named acting attorney general last week. He also addressed broader questions about the role of the Justice Department under President Donald Trump.

Blanche said Trump has both the right and the duty to influence federal investigations involving individuals or entities the president believes should face scrutiny.

“We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now,” Blanche said. “It is true that some of them involve men, women and entities that the president in the past has had issues with and believes should be investigated. That is his right and indeed it is his duty to do that, meaning to lead this country.”

His comments come after Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, reportedly due in part to dissatisfaction with the pace and outcome of cases the president had pushed for.

The Justice Department under Trump has launched multiple investigations into perceived adversaries, including US officials who concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election to boost Trump’s first campaign, Democratic lawmakers who urged military personnel to refuse unlawful orders, and liberal donors and fundraising groups.

Several of those investigations have faced obstacles in the courts. A federal judge last year dismissed cases against two officials who had investigated Trump, James Comey and Letitia James.

Also read: Trump says Bondi is out as attorney general

Blanche, who represented Trump in three of the four criminal cases he faced while out of office, said the president “wants justice” for people he believes were targeted through the legal system.