Maddow Calls for Blanche Impeachment
The MSNBC host made the call onstage at George Washington University while promoting her new book on the Justice Department.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Rachel Maddow called for Attorney General Todd Blanche's impeachment on Sunday evening during an onstage event with Chris Hayes before a sold-out crowd at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. She cited Blanche's interview with convicted Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell as the basis for the call.
Why it matters
No attorney general has ever been impeached, so a call of this kind from a prominent media figure raises the profile of a rarely used constitutional remedy. Rep. Jamie Raskin said last week that Blanche could possibly face impeachment hearings, and Democrats are projected to hold roughly 255 House seats after the midterm sweep.
Maddow's call is a public demand rather than a formal legal filing, and no impeachment resolution against Blanche has been reported. Raskin's comment that hearings could possibly occur remains a prospect, not a scheduled proceeding.
The players
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow is an MSNBC host and political commentator known for her long-form examinations of government and the Justice Department.
Todd Blanche
Todd Blanche is the U.S. Attorney General, previously Donald Trump's personal criminal defense attorney, who was narrowly confirmed after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April.
Jamie Raskin
Jamie Raskin is a Democratic congressman from Maryland and a prominent member of the House Judiciary Committee.
The details
Maddow made the remarks Sunday evening on stage with Chris Hayes before a sold-out crowd at Lisner Auditorium while promoting her book Department of Fate, a history of the Justice Department from 1870 through the Trump era. The book proposes barring a president's former personal lawyers and campaign workers from serving in the department, a point that bears on Blanche, who was Trump's personal criminal defense attorney before becoming attorney general.
Timeline
April: Trump fired Pam Bondi, and Blanche was narrowly confirmed afterward.
Last week: Rep. Jamie Raskin said on MS NOW that Blanche could possibly face impeachment hearings.
Sunday evening: Maddow made the impeachment call at the George Washington University event.
Legal Context
Blanche's possible impeachment would follow the 1876 impeachment of Secretary of War William Belknap and the 2024 impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, both cabinet-level precedents. No attorney general has ever faced the process, which makes the call notable even as a non-binding demand.
Readers following federal oversight should note that impeachment is a House function requiring a majority vote, and any hearings would determine how the Justice Department is held accountable. The outcome shapes how the department's leadership answers to Congress.
The takeaway
Impeachment of a cabinet official is a constitutional remedy that has rarely been used, and calls for it often precede formal action only when congressional majorities align. Watching how House leadership responds to Raskin's comments will show whether this demand moves beyond commentary.
Further reading
For broader background on the department at the center of this debate, see Sex Crimes coverage on the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Raw Story.
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