**[U.S. Senators Accuse Deputy Attorney General of Shutting Down DOJ Crypto Enforcement Unit Due to His Significant Cryptocurrency Holdings]** Foresight News reports that 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 dissolve the Department of Justice (DOJ) National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) in April 2025. The senators pointed out that despite Todd Blanche claiming the DOJ should not act as a regulator for digital assets, he personally held between $158,000 and $470,000 worth of cryptocurrency at the time of the decision, which constitutes a clear conflict of interest and may violate federal laws governing personal financial interests. The senators had previously described the shutdown of the unit as a "grave mistake," arguing that it would facilitate criminal activities such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, and fraud. The letter cited data showing that illegal cryptocurrency activities surged by 162% in 2025, driven primarily by a significant increase in cryptocurrency received by sanctioned entities, with money laundering networks becoming the "dominant force" in the digital asset space. The senators believe Todd Blanche's actions may violate federal law 18 U.S.C. § 208(a), which prohibits personal financial interests from influencing official decisions. Todd Blanche is currently the subject of a complaint filed with the DOJ Office of the Inspector General.