After the Supreme Court blocked President Trump's executive order on mail-in voting, Attorney General Blanche said the administration would comply with the ruling while defending Trump's public criticism of the court.
Key facts
- The Supreme Court blocked Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting.
- Attorney General Blanche said the administration will comply with the ruling.
- Trump said the justices 'really let our country down' and, according to Al Jazeera, claimed the decisions set the US 'back 100 years.'
- FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the Senate judiciary committee the same day.
Attorney General Blanche defended President Donald Trump’s public criticism of the US Supreme Court after the court blocked his executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting, while confirming the administration would comply with the ruling.
Blanche said the president ‘should communicate his concerns with the supreme court,’ according to reporting on the developments. His comments came after Trump said the justices ‘really let our country down’ in response to the decision.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump claimed the Supreme Court’s decisions set the US ‘back 100 years’ following the blocked ballot rule change. Despite the president’s criticism, Blanche indicated the administration would abide by the court’s decision on the mail ballot ruling.
The developments unfolded on the same day that FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the Senate judiciary committee. It was Patel’s first appearance before Congress since May, when he sparred with senators on the appropriations committee and denied under oath allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences, dismissing them as ‘baseless.’
Ahead of the hearing, Senator Dick Durbin, the judiciary committee’s top Democrat, criticised Patel, calling him ‘the least qualified and most partisan FBI director in our nation’s history’ and saying the bureau had been ‘reshaped as a political weapon.’ Patel has previously rejected such criticism. It was not immediately clear from the sources how Patel or Republican members responded during the session.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the judiciary over election rules ahead of the midterms. While the president publicly criticised the justices, the administration's stated intent to comply signals the ruling will stand for now.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Trump administration say it would comply with the Supreme Court ruling?
Yes. Attorney General Blanche said the administration will comply with the mail ballot ruling, even as he defended Trump's criticism of the court.
What did Trump say about the Supreme Court?
Trump said the justices 'really let our country down' and, according to Al Jazeera, claimed the court's decisions set the US 'back 100 years.'
Why was FBI Director Kash Patel testifying?
Patel appeared before the Senate judiciary committee. It was his first appearance before Congress since May, when he denied under oath allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.