WASHINGTON — Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Thursday that the Justice Department has no criminal investigations under way into Democratic lawmakers over their plans to scrutinise the Trump administration, reversing his warning days earlier that such oversight could amount to a crime. The assurance came hours after President Donald Trump renewed his demand that six Democratic lawmakers — the group he calls the "Seditious Six" — be prosecuted over a video urging service members not to follow unlawful orders.

Blanche spoke after a Justice Department press conference on Operation TorNado. Asked whether any Democrat faced a criminal investigation for threatening oversight, he said: "There's no ongoing investigations, criminal investigations into words that that incoming senators or congressmen have said." Asked what a Democrat had said that crossed a criminal line, he replied: "I'd never said that that point has been crossed."

Key Points

• Blanche said on Thursday, November 12, that there are "no ongoing investigations, criminal investigations into words that that incoming senators or congressmen have said" about Democratic oversight plans.
• Asked what a Democrat had said that crossed a criminal line, he replied: "I'd never said that that point has been crossed."
• Hours earlier, Trump asked on social media: "Will the Seditious Six ever be prosecuted?"
• On SiriusXM, Blanche said he had "not threatened any member of Congress with a criminal investigation," and confirmed no investigation of Senator Elissa Slotkin is under way.
• It reverses his CNN appearance on Sunday, November 8, when he said "there could be" a crime to investigate.

What Happened

The attorney general's comments came at the end of a press conference about Operation TorNado, which produced 354 arrests worldwide, including 132 in the United States. But the questions were about the standoff with the Democrats who will take control of Congress in January.

His answers were notably different in tone from his Sunday television appearance. On CNN, he warned that Democratic lawmakers conducting oversight could face criminal investigation, singled out Representative Robert Garcia — in line to chair the House Oversight Committee after telling incoming officials to "lawyer up" — and said: "I would be very worried if I was a member on that committee." On Thursday, the message was the opposite: talking about investigating the administration is not a crime. He repeated the point on SiriusXM and confirmed Senator Slotkin is not under investigation.

Background: How the Standoff Built Up

The row began after Democrats won both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026. Democratic leaders have outlined sweeping oversight plans for January, covering the Epstein files, the Trump family's business dealings and immigration enforcement. Representative Garcia, expected to chair House Oversight, posted "LAWYER UP" on election night, and Representative Jamie Raskin, in line to chair House Judiciary, has signalled corruption investigations.

Trump responded on Saturday, November 7, with a post on Truth Social accusing Democrats of threatening officials with impeachment and imprisonment, calling it "extortion at the highest level." He wrote: "By copy of this statement, I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately!" Trump ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democrats over 'extortion'. Blanche then appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, November 8, backing the president's position and saying "there could be" a crime to investigate. Blanche warned Democrats to be 'very worried'.

The pressure intensified on Monday, November 9, when White House counsel Will Scharf wrote to Garcia warning that Democratic probes "may cross the line into blatant criminality." Then, on Wednesday, November 11, US attorney Aaron Reitz wrote to Senator Richard Blumenthal ordering him to preserve records from his inquiry into White House ballroom donors. A US attorney threatened Blumenthal with prosecution over the ballroom donor probe.

The "Seditious Six" and the Video at the Centre of the Row

The phrase "Seditious Six" is Trump's label for six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video recorded last year urging members of the military and the intelligence community not to follow unlawful orders. The president has repeatedly demanded that they be prosecuted.

Blanche did not say whether the video itself could ever be investigated. But he said there is no criminal investigation into what incoming senators or members of Congress have said about their oversight plans, and he has never said any Democrat's remarks crossed a criminal line. He left one question open: asked whether headquarters approved the Reitz letter, he said only that "any office could investigate that."

Reactions and Quotes

Garcia, the incoming Oversight chairman, responded to Blanche's Sunday warning on CNN immediately after it aired, saying: "We're not going to be intimidated." He reminded viewers that Blanche had been Trump's personal lawyer before becoming attorney general. Blumenthal has treated the Reitz letter as intimidation and demanded that Reitz preserve his own communications with the White House. The White House has not commented on Blanche's remarks.

Why It Matters

The standoff goes to the heart of how American government works after an election that changes control of Congress. Oversight — the power of Congress to investigate the executive branch — is one of the legislature's core functions, and the incoming Democratic majorities intend to use it aggressively. If the Justice Department treated promises of oversight as potential crimes, that power would be chilled before the new Congress is sworn in. Blanche's walk-back removes that threat for now, and it exposes a split: the president demands prosecutions while his attorney general says there is no case.

What Happens Next

Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress in January, and Garcia is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, with Raskin chairing House Judiciary and Blumenthal leading Democratic oversight in the Senate. Their planned investigations — into the Epstein files, the Trump family's business dealings and the ballroom donor inquiry — should begin within weeks. Whether the Justice Department opens any investigation into Democrats remains open: Blanche said there is none under way but did not rule out future action. The immediate question is whether Trump accepts his answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is any Democratic lawmaker under criminal investigation?
No. Blanche said on Thursday, November 12, that there are no criminal investigations into what incoming senators or members of Congress have said, and he confirmed Senator Elissa Slotkin is not under investigation.

Who are the "Seditious Six"?
Six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video recorded last year urging military and intelligence personnel not to follow unlawful orders. Trump has repeatedly demanded they be prosecuted.

What did Blanche say on Sunday that he has now walked back?
On CNN on November 8, Blanche said "there could be" a crime to investigate and told Representative Robert Garcia he should be "very worried." On Thursday he said no Democrat's remarks crossed a criminal line.

What happens when Democrats take control of Congress in January?
Robert Garcia is expected to lead House Oversight and Jamie Raskin to lead House Judiciary. They plan investigations into the Epstein files, the Trump family's business dealings and the ballroom donor inquiry.