--- title: "US Attorney General Todd Blanche: DOJ to probe AI crimes, not regulate" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-15T21:05:10.946Z" source_reported: "2026-09-15T22:08:12.457Z" updated: "2026-09-15T21:05:10.946Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-15T21:49:34.446Z" --- # US Attorney General Todd Blanche: DOJ to probe AI crimes, not regulate *Todd Blanche stated the Department of Justice will investigate AI-related crimes but will not regulate the technology.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates or locations. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes or right of reply not provided for all affected parties; some claims are hedged. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with mild sensationalism and loaded adjectives. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the Department of Justice will investigate AI-related crimes but will not regulate the technology. - Blanche accused Democrats of using the AI debate to influence the midterm elections. - The DOJ will investigate 'anybody associated' with AI if they violate the law, according to Blanche. - Blanche prefers a restrained approach to taking enforcement action against AI companies and executives. US Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will investigate crimes related to artificial intelligence but will not act as a regulatory body for the technology. Blanche indicated that the DOJ would investigate "anybody associated" with AI if they violated the law, citing the existence of "a lot of criminal laws" applicable to the field. He expressed a preference for a restrained approach to enforcement actions against AI companies and their executives. ## Disagreement on political motivation US Attorney General Todd Blanche accused Democrats of using the debate over artificial intelligence to influence the upcoming midterm elections. Reports from Washington Times and Newsweek specifically mention Blanche's accusation of Democrats orchestrating a "phony panic" or using AI "hoax" concerns for political gain. Yonhap News Agency also reported that Blanche linked the current AI controversy to an attempt to influence the midterm elections. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the bipartisan bloc of 36 state attorneys general or Florida's lawsuit against OpenAI, which Startup Fortune reported on. The right-rated digests do not mention the bipartisan bloc of 36 state attorneys general or Florida's lawsuit against OpenAI, which Startup Fortune reported on. The centre-rated digests do not mention the bipartisan bloc of 36 state attorneys general or Florida's lawsuit against OpenAI, which Startup Fortune reported on. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 8% (1) - Centre: 38% (5) - Right: 54% (7) 7 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-15T21:49:34.446Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-15T22:00:25.658Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on Attorney General Todd Blanche's statement that the Department of Justice will investigate AI-related crimes but will not regulate the technology. NBC News's full report headline stated, "Blanche says it's not the job of DOJ to 'regulate' AI." Bloomberg Law's digest also highlighted Blanche's opposition to AI 'regulation by prosecution' and his preference for a restrained enforcement approach. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted Attorney General Todd Blanche's stance on the DOJ's role concerning AI. Multiple outlets, including Reuters, WTVB, and Market Screener, reported that Blanche said the DOJ would probe AI-related violations and investigate "anybody associated" with AI if they broke the law. CBS News noted Blanche's appearance at a White House briefing where he took questions on AI regulations. Devdiscourse reported Blanche's emphasis on enforcing existing laws rather than regulating AI itself. Bloomberg also noted Blanche's opposition to AI 'regulation by prosecution' and his preference for a restrained approach. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on Attorney General Todd Blanche's statements regarding the political motivations behind the AI debate and his approach to enforcement. Washington Times and Newsweek reported Blanche accusing Democrats of creating a "phony panic" or using AI "hoax" concerns to influence the midterm elections. Anadolu Ajansı and Yonhap News Agency also reported Blanche's view that the AI controversy was an attempt to influence the midterms. Just the News reported Blanche stating he would not regulate AI by prosecution but would probe those who commit AI-related crimes. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 4 - high: 5 - unknown: 7 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-justice-department-will-investigate-ai-related-crimes-but-wont-regulate-attorney-general-says/4058288) — US Justice Department will investigate AI-related crimes, but won't regulate, attorney general says - [tippinsights](https://tippinsights.com/doj-to-investigate-ai-related-crimes-attorney-general-blanche-says) — DOJ to Investigate AI-Related Crimes, Attorney General Blanche Says - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/attorney-general-blanche-accuses-democrats-phony-panic-ai-midterm) — Attorney General Blanche accuses Democrats of phony 'panic' over AI before midterm elections - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4728259/todd-blanche-trump-ai-hoax-claim-democrats-influence-midterm-elections) — Blanche says Democrats driving AI fears to 'influence the midterms' - [Halk TV](https://halktv.com.tr/dunya/dev-isimlerin-uyarilarini-dinlemeyecekler-abdde-yapay-zeka-basibos-kalacak-1055285h) — They Will Ignore the Warnings of the Big Names: AI Will Be Left Unchecked in the US. - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260916005200071) — U.S. Department of Justice: "Current AI Controversy Is an Attempt to Influence Midterm Elections" - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/abd-adalet-bakanligi-yapay-zekayla-baglantili-20240993-haberi) — The US Department of Justice Announced It Will Investigate Crimes Linked to Artificial Intelligence. - [CBS News](https://cbsnews.com/video/watch-blanche-talks-possible-doj-role-in-ai-regulations-mail-in-voting-at-white-house-briefing) — Blanche talks possible DOJ role in AI regulations, mail-in voting at White House briefing - [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/trumps-ag-says-ai-hoax-concerns-are-attempt-to-influence-the-midterms-12446622) — Trump's AG Says AI 'Hoax' Concerns Are Attempt to 'Influence the Midterms' - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3977608-justice-department-on-ai-legal-scrutiny-intensifies) — Justice Department on AI: Legal Scrutiny Intensifies - [NBC News](https://nbcnews.com/video/shorts/blanche-says-it-s-not-the-job-of-doj-to-regulate-ai-269895237731) — Blanche says it's not the job of DOJ to 'regulate' AI - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/15/attorney-general-blanche-says-doj-would-probe-ai-related-violations) — Attorney General Blanche says DOJ would probe AI-related violations - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/us/attorney-general-blanche-says-doj-would-probe-ai-related-violations-2026-09-15) — Attorney General Blanche says DOJ would probe AI-related violations - [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/ag-blanche-restrained-ai-enforcement) — US Attorney General Todd Blanche signals hands-off DOJ approach to AI enforcement - [Market Screener](https://marketscreener.com/news/attorney-general-blanche-says-doj-would-probe-ai-related-violations-ce785bddd188f026) — Attorney General Blanche says DOJ would probe AI-related violations - [Startup Fortune](https://startupfortune.com/todd-blanche-says-the-doj-wont-regulate-ai-companies-through-prosecution) — Todd Blanche Says the DOJ Won't Regulate AI Companies Through Prosecution - [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-15/attorney-general-blanche-opposes-ai-regulation-by-prosecution) — Attorney General Blanche Opposes AI ‘Regulation by Prosecution’ - [Just the News](https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/blanche-says-he-will-not-regulate-ai-prosecution-will-probe-those-who) — Blanche says he will not regulate AI by prosecution, will probe those who commit AI related crimes - [Bloomberg Law](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/attorney-general-blanche-opposes-ai-regulation-by-prosecution) — Attorney General Blanche Opposes AI ‘Regulation by Prosecution’ - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/133a95be7e96eae6) — Attorney General Blanche Opposes AI 'Regulation by Prosecution' ## Questions **Will the Department of Justice regulate artificial intelligence?** US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the Department of Justice will investigate AI-related crimes but will not be the regulatory body for the technology. He prefers a restrained approach to enforcement actions against AI companies and executives. **Why does Todd Blanche think Democrats are discussing AI?** Todd Blanche accused Democrats of using the debate over artificial intelligence to influence the upcoming midterm elections. He suggested that the current AI controversy was an attempt to politically impact the elections. **What is the DOJ's approach to AI-related violations?** The Department of Justice will investigate "anybody associated" with AI if they violate the law, according to Attorney General Todd Blanche. He indicated a preference for a restrained approach to enforcement actions against AI companies and executives. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US Attorney General Todd Blanche: DOJ to probe AI crimes, not regulate", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-attorney-general-todd-blanche-doj-to-probe-ai-crimes-not-regulate