Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a sharp response Friday after a reporter attempted to shift a Justice Department press conference away from its stated purpose and toward the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
The exchange unfolded as Blanche was addressing reporters to announce the Department of Justice’s release of more than three million new documents connected to notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. The briefing was focused on the document release, which has drawn widespread attention due to Epstein’s extensive criminal history and the public interest surrounding his associates.
According to reports, the reporter, whose identity was not immediately known, was the first to raise Lemon’s arrest, which had been reported earlier Friday morning. After initially asking Blanche whether the newly released Epstein documents contained the names of prominent individuals, the reporter abruptly pivoted to a separate topic.
“Do you have a reaction to the arrest of Don Lemon overnight?” the reporter asked.
Blanche’s response made clear he had little patience for the detour. Appearing visibly unimpressed by the question, he pushed back on the premise and tone of the inquiry.
“Do I have a reaction to it?” Blanche replied. “I don’t know what that means. What are you looking for me to do, jump up and down?” He added plainly that he did not have a reaction and declined to comment further.
The deputy attorney general emphasized that he was not prepared to speak about the matter, noting that the charges had not yet been unsealed. With that, he shut down the line of questioning and returned to the focus of the briefing.
“I don’t know that the charges are unsealed yet,” Blanche said. “So no, I’m not going to comment on that.”
The brief exchange underscored the contrast between the DOJ’s stated purpose for the press conference and the reporter’s attempt to redirect attention toward a high-profile media figure. Blanche had convened the event to discuss the massive release of Epstein-related documents, a topic that has remained a matter of intense public scrutiny and concern.
By refusing to engage, Blanche signaled that the Justice Department was not interested in offering commentary on an arrest outside the scope of the briefing, particularly one involving an individual long associated with the media establishment. His curt response drew attention for its bluntness, as he appeared to mock the expectation that he should offer an emotional or political reaction.
The full exchange, later circulated online, captured Blanche repeatedly asking what kind of “reaction” the reporter was seeking, before dismissing the question altogether. The moment quickly became a flashpoint, highlighting tensions between federal officials and members of the press during high-stakes announcements.
Blanche’s refusal to speculate or comment on Lemon’s arrest aligned with his stated position that it would be inappropriate to discuss a case before charges are publicly available. The deputy attorney general made clear that, at least from his perspective, the DOJ briefing was about the Epstein document release—and nothing else.
The incident ended with Blanche declining further comment and moving on, leaving the reporter without the reaction he appeared to be seeking.
