Todd Blanche, the newly sworn-in Attorney General of the United States, made his inaugural address to the Department of Justice (DOJ) workforce, emphasizing his commitment to lead with integrity. This promise comes in the wake of a tumultuous 18-month period marked by significant controversies during his tenure as Deputy AG and Acting AG.

“I promise you that I will lead this department with integrity,” Blanche declared to the DOJ's vast assembly of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and support staff. He further pledged to “uphold the rule of law fairly and impartially, to keep this great country safe and to protect the rights of every citizen in this country.”

Blanche’s past actions, however, sharply contrast with his recent assertions of integrity and impartiality. His record includes supporting the president's right to direct criminal investigations against political adversaries and introducing himself as the president’s lawyer during his confirmation hearing. Additionally, his leadership saw the exit of 16,000 DOJ employees, including career prosecutors dismissed for refusing unethical practices.

Moreover, Blanche has been criticized for creating a $1.8 billion fund allegedly used to benefit political allies, a move that almost jeopardized his confirmation. His stance towards the judiciary also raises eyebrows, as he has been part of an administration noted for its critical stance towards federal judges and the judicial process.

In his speech, Blanche also stressed the importance of not being intimidated out of enforcing the law, despite past DOJ arguments being labeled as "pretextual," "disingenuous," and "bad faith" by federal judges across the political spectrum.

Despite these controversies, Blanche assured his audience that he welcomed disagreements over policy and respected the judiciary, aiming for fair law enforcement. Such commitments are critical as he takes the helm of the DOJ, but given his record, these pledges are met with skepticism.

Blanche’s tenure at the DOJ has been fraught with challenges and criticisms, raising questions about the sincerity of his commitment to change and uphold the values he now promotes. As he steps into his role as Attorney General, all eyes will be on his actions to see if they align with his words of integrity and fairness.