The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has formally requested an investigation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General regarding Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. This comes amidst concerns that Blanche may have been involved in cases that impact his financial interests, potentially breaching the criminal conflict of interest statute, 18 U.S.C. § 208.
Reports suggest that Blanche implemented a new DOJ prosecution policy that appears to favor the digital asset sector, an industry in which he reportedly holds significant investments. Given these circumstances, if Blanche did indeed engage in matters related to the digital asset industry while owning digital assets, he might have violated both his ethics agreement and relevant federal laws.
This recent request updates a prior complaint submitted on January 22, 2026. The update clarifies the estimated value of Blanche’s digital asset holdings based on his financial disclosures, adjusting it to a range between $159,011 and $485,000. This is a correction from the previously cited figures of $274,013 to $785,000. The earlier complaint also misrepresented the value of his Bitcoin sales; he reported selling between $100,001 and $250,000 in Bitcoin, exceedingly higher than the prior claim of $50,001 to $100,000. Additionally, the updated complaint now accurately reflects his ownership and sale of Ethereum valued between $15,001 and $50,000, distinguishing it from his transactions involving Ethereum Classic.
This unfolding situation raises important questions regarding the balance of ethics and financial interests within government positions, emphasizing the necessity for transparency and accountability in public service roles. As the investigation by the DOJ OIG proceeds, it will be crucial to observe how issues of potential conflicts of interest are addressed in governmental practices, particularly in realms as rapidly evolving as digital assets.