Blanche won't rule out DOJ blocking election certification in 'doomsday' scenario

Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to rule out whether the Department of Justice could seek to intervene in states’ midterm election certification processes, saying there are extreme scenarios that could prompt federal action.Speaking to reporters in Virginia on Thursday, Blanche said it was not his intention to "improperly interfere with elections," but declined to rule out federal involvement if a "doomsday scenario" were to happen."Of course there’s scenarios that we can all come up with hypothetically, you know, some doomsday scenario, for example, right?" he said."So, I don’t think it’s proper to make any kind of conclusory statements about what’s going to happen in the future, because I have no idea what’s happening in the future."Blanche said he could not say there were no circumstances under which the DOJ would get involved.NEWSOM SPARS WITH TRUMP-APPOINTED PROSECUTOR OVER 20,000 SUSPECTED NONCITIZENS ON VOTER ROLLSAttorney General Todd Blanche refused to rule out whether the Department of Justice would intervene in states’ midterm election verification processes.

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)"Of course, I’m not going to say that," he said."But am I planning my days around the election to be somewhere to not certify? Of course not, no, not at all."The DOJ's role in elections is limited under the Constitution and federal law, allowing it primarily to safeguard civil rights and prosecute people who violate election law.

Federal law does not specifically authorize the department to challenge ballots or delay a state's certification of election results.Under the Constitution and federal law, U.S.elections are run by state and local officials rather than the federal government.During a news conference in Norfolk, Blanche was questioned about the DOJ's litigation against states, seeking to force officials to turn over unredacted voter data and halt the counting of ballots cast by thousands of voters the federal government argues are likely nonc...