Ethics Complaint

LDAD and DDF Appeal the New York Attorney Grievance Committee’s Response to Ethics Complaint Filed Against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche

June 28, 2021

Jul 24, 2026

Editorial credit: Shuterstock

LDAD and Democracy Defenders Fund filed a formal request for reconsideration with the New York Attorney Grievance Committee, urging the Chair of the Committee to reverse the Chief Attorney’s recent refusal to open an investigation of Acting Attorney Todd Blanche.

On June 22, LDAD, DDF, and a bipartisan group of over 100 retired federal and state judges filed a complaint seeking an investigation of Mr. Blanche by the Committee. The Committee’s Chief Attorney responded that they “will take no action in this matter at this time.” Instead, the Chief Attorney directed the complainants to the Department of Justice’s own Office of Professional Responsibility.

As the request for reconsideration explains, however, OPR lacks the independence to conduct a credible review. The Office of Professional Responsibility, which has been without a lead Counsel for months, reports directly to the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General. The result is that Todd Blanche, or a DOJ official that reports to him, would be reviewing and making decisions about an ethics complaint against him in his official role at DOJ. 

Moreover, the Committee’s refusal to investigate at this time also ignores significant judicial findings already on the record regarding Mr. Blanche’s conduct. The request highlights the recent order issued by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Trump v. IRS that found Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice colluded with President Trump to improperly use the court system to give credence to the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization slush fund agreement. Judge Williams directed that a copy of her order be sent to the AGC for consideration, as part of an investigation into the complaint, specifically linking to the complaint filed by DDF, LDAD, and the judges.

Scott Harshbarger, co-founder and board chair of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, stated that the Chief Attorney’s letter sends the wrong message to other disciplinary authorities throughout the country: “Public trust and confidence in our justice system is dependent upon lawyers adhering to their oath and complying with the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct. If state disciplinary authorities are unwilling to hold government lawyers to the same requirements that every other lawyer must follow, then the system has failed.”

More details about the Request for Reconsideration can be found in the press release below.

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