Blanche says DOJ's lawsuit is "not saying, don't certify"
Todd BlancheU.S. attorney general, interviewed on CBS's Face the Nation
Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Justice Department's Alaska election lawsuit, on CBS News's "Face the Nation," Oct. 25, 2026.
Excerpt from 8:28 to 9:59 of the CBS News "Face the Nation" broadcast video. Cut from the broadcast video on the CBS News transcript page cited for this source. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: CBS News. Excerpt used for news reporting and commentary
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Blanche interview, Alaska lawsuit segment)
Blanche says the lawsuit does not ask Alaska to withhold certification outright, only if a court finds the result was decided by voter confusion rather than the will of the voters.
“It's not saying, don't certify. It's saying, if a court ultimately determines that it was decided because of confusion and not the will of the voters, then we do not think the states should certify, and that's consistent with federal law and consistent with even Alaskan law, if that happens.”
Interview
Other statements by Todd Blanche in this case
- Blanche says President Trump is not trying to take over a state electionSame day: Defended or excused
Where this statement fits
DOJ challenges Alaska Senate certification over two Sullivans; Murkowski objects
DOJ sued Alaska over the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the Senate ballot. It seeks to prevent certification under specified conditions involving an incumbent loss and the possible effect of namesake votes. Lisa Murkowski and Mary Peltola criticize the intervention.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
CBS News transcript of Margaret Brennan's interview with Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche and Brennan dispute how the lawsuit describes the second candidate and what relief it seeks.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Before the quotation
Margaret Brennan asked what right the federal government has to tell a state not to certify or how to certify. In his answer, Blanche said DOJ is trying to put guardrails in place so that ballots are kept in a way that shows whether there was confusion.
After the quotation
Asked who President Trump was referring to when he said "I'm the one that said do it," Blanche said he had no idea and that even if he did, he would not talk about it.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns DOJ's requested conditional intervention in certification of Alaska's Senate election. Blanche defends that request as limited and consistent with federal and Alaska law.
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More from this case
Read the full caseMuller urges investigation while rejecting the amended certification claim
“further investigation is essential to determine whether they should be brought.”Read statement
Dunleavy leaves certification action conditional on investigative findings
“may, in fact, impact whether somebody is seated in the U.S. Senate.”Read statement
Somin condemns the reported tactic but maintains his objection to DOJ's suit
“But the fact that this scheme is legal doesn't make it right.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Blanche says DOJ's lawsuit is "not saying, don't certify"". First published: 2026-10-27. Last updated: 2026-10-27. https://disputeindex.com/events/6916-blanche-says-the-lawsuit-does-not-ask-alaska