CNN legal analyst Elie Honig was left baffled Tuesday after Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered an unusual White House press briefing that veered from law enforcement into politics and jokes.
“I’m not exactly sure what that was that we just saw,” Honig said after Blanche wrapped up his appearance in the Rose Garden. “Was that the Attorney General of the United States? Was that someone trying to be the next press secretary to the White House?
Honig, a former federal prosecutor, said Blanche was “AG-like” at times while discussing law enforcement, but repeatedly strayed outside the traditional role of the nation’s top law enforcement official.
“At times he went way out of the lane of an attorney general and talked about issues that have nothing to do with DOJ,” Honig said, citing new concerns about AI and its effect on the midterm elections.
Other times, Honig added, Blanche was “awkwardly cringly, jokey,” cracking jokes about reporters sweating, who had the microphone, and “the bald guy.”
“I’ve known Todd Blanche for a long time,” Honig said. “I don’t know what that shtick is that he just offered us.”
But Honig said the more serious issue was Blanche delivering what he called an “overtly political brief” from the White House.
“Attorneys general of both parties going back decades have done their upmost to keep a level of separation and independence from the White House,” he said.
CNN White House correspondent Kristen Holmes also said Blanche repeatedly “danced around” questions, including one about President Donald Trump’s criticism of Supreme Court justices.
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