Donald Trump’s nomination of his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, as Attorney General has prompted warnings from British legal experts about the erosion of prosecutorial independence. Blanche, who represented Trump in his hush-money trial, is seen as a loyalist pick. His appointment would place a figure with close ties to the President at the head of the Justice Department, raising fears of partisan interference in high-profile cases.
British barristers and legal scholars have voiced concern. Professor Sir David Cranston, a former High Court judge, said: “In the UK, the Attorney General is bound by strict conventions to act independently of party politics. The US model is different, but this nomination signals a dangerous blurring of lines.” The move has drawn comparisons to the sacking of FBI Director James Comey, which triggered accusations of political meddling.
For British observers, the nomination strikes at the heart of the rule of law. The Justice Department has long prided itself on a tradition of autonomy, even as presidents have pushed boundaries. Trump’s nomination of Blanche, a lawyer who argued that he could not be prosecuted for ordering a political assassination, is seen as a step too far.
Downing Street has remained silent, but legal experts warn that the US is drifting from the shared values of judicial impartiality. If confirmed, Blanche would oversee cases involving Trump’s allies and rivals. The concern is that justice will be seen to be done, rather than actually being done. The British legal establishment is watching with unease.
