
The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell S2 Ep152: Todd Blanche’s Jaw-Dropping Ethics Violation (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
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Mar 28, 2026 Andrew Weissmann, former DOJ official and FBI general counsel, offers sharp legal perspective. They dig into the DOJ’s $1.25M payout to Michael Flynn and a surprising leak of sensitive documents. Tensions flare over a top official labeling Jack Smith a “proven liar.” The conversation also covers press access rules, AI supply-chain disputes, and Robert Mueller’s legacy.
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Investigate DOJ Officials Who Settled Cases Involving Allies
- Future administrations should pursue ethics and possibly legal reviews into DOJ actions that rewarded allies with public funds to determine if officials violated recusal rules.
- Weissmann urges scrutiny of Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche because they previously represented Trump and should have recused from related DOJ decisions.
Inadvertent DOJ Leak Raises Alarm Over Sensitive Docs
- A DOJ document production accidentally released material suggesting Jack Smith flagged some classified Mar-a-Lago items as tied to 'business interests.'
- Weissmann and Jonathan Last note the leak violated a court order and creates serious concerns about internal controls and politicized handling of sensitive material.
Senior DOJ Rhetoric Undercuts Institutional Neutrality
- Todd Blanche's public attack calling Jack Smith a 'proven liar' exemplifies politicized rhetoric from senior DOJ officials with conflicts of interest.
- Weissmann says Blanche's statement is improper, especially given his prior role as Trump's defense lawyer and DOJ recusal norms.






