US senators accuse the deputy attorney general of shutting down the Justice Department’s crypto enforcement team due to his possession of crypto assets.

On January 28, six U.S. senators, including Mazie K. Hirono, Elizabeth Warren, and Richard Durbin, sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche questioning his decision to disband the Department of Justice's National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Task Force (NCET) in April 2025. The senators pointed out that Blanche held approximately $158,000 to $470,000 worth of cryptocurrency at the time of the decision, potentially constituting a conflict of interest and violating federal laws regarding the influence of personal financial interests on official decisions. The letter stated that shutting down the enforcement task force was considered a "serious mistake" and could facilitate sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, and fraud. The senators cited data indicating that illicit cryptocurrency activity increased by 162% year-over-year in 2025, primarily driven by inflows of funds related to sanctioned entities and money laundering networks. Blanche is currently the subject of a complaint filed by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General.