Trump introduces Todd Blanche, then says Peltola is ‘his own decision’

Nothing says “independent Justice Department” like the president pointing out the attorney general in the crowd and then telling him what he’d like done.

At his Daytona Beach rally on Friday, Trump was in the middle of his riff on Alaska’s two Dan Sullivans when he paused: “By the way, we have a very important man in our room, the Attorney General of the United States of America, Todd Blanche.” Then, back on Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola: “But she should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted, but he’s going to make his own decision.” He turned to Blanche: “Todd, please make your own, right?” By Trump’s account, Blanche said yes. “And so should the fake Dan Sullivan,” Trump added. “He should be prosecuted.”

What’s actually on the record: the top federal prosecutor in Alaska says a criminal investigation is underway into the would-be spoiler candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan, and the Justice Department wants ballots ranking him set apart, AP reports. Nobody has been charged. Peltola says she is “so deeply offended by these accusations about having any involvement with anyone else’s candidacy.”

Four days before the election, Trump named who he wants prosecuted and assured the room it was entirely up to the man sitting in it.