Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives for a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House August 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump’s suggestion that protesters could be prosecuted for racketeering, as the administration continues to preview a crackdown on left-wing groups it claims are inciting violence.
Trump on Monday suggested that protesters who interrupted his dinner at a restaurant in downtown DC last week could face charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, claiming that one of the protesters involved was a “paid agitator.”
“I’ve asked Pam to look into that in terms of RICO, bringing RICO cases,” Trump said, speaking fr