Attorney General Todd Blanche refused Sunday to promise that the Justice Department will act independently of the White House, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that no attorney general should make such a pledge — a striking break from a norm that Justice Department leaders in both parties have generally tried to uphold since the Watergate era.

Pressed by host Kristen Welker on whether he would commit to running the DOJ free of political direction from President Trump, Blanche said flatly: "No, I'm not going to pledge that. And no attorney general should ever pledge that."

Blanche went further, saying it was appropriate for Trump to weigh in on individual prosecution decisions. Asked whether the president should have a voice in specific cases, Blanche responded "yes, of course," while insisting the relationship has limits: "The president will never ask me to do something unethical or illegal. He never has. He never will."

NO ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD EVER PLEDGE THAT.

A Familiar Face for Trump

Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal criminal defense attorney before joining the administration, was confirmed as the 88th U.S. Attorney General on Aug. 8 after months serving as acting and deputy attorney general. In a separate interview with "Fox News Sunday" the same day, Blanche said he retains the ability to disagree with the president, arguing "the president loves disagreement" and "wants to get counsel from all of his leaders."

The comments landed as the latest flashpoint in a broader debate over the DOJ's independence during Trump's second term, with critics arguing that a Justice Department answerable to a president's political interests undercuts the rule of law, according to Axios. Attorneys general from both parties have traditionally drawn a distinction between a president setting broad policy priorities — uncontroversial — and directing or influencing specific criminal cases, which the department's own internal guidelines have long sought to wall off from White House involvement.

Supporters of Blanche's remarks argue that total independence is a myth in any administration and that the attorney general ultimately answers to a president elected on specific policy commitments, according to Forbes. Blanche's defenders note he has not been shown to have taken any specific improper action on the president's behalf since taking over the department.

The remarks are likely to resurface if the DOJ opens or closes any high-profile investigation touching the president's allies or rivals in the months ahead, with Democrats and independent legal watchdogs expected to point back to Sunday's interview as evidence the department has stepped back from its traditional independence posture.