Trump's Justice Department faces a new era of scrutiny under a Democratic-led Congress

Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a news conference about law enforcement actions relating to the illicit sale of drugs on the dark web Nov. 12 at the Department of Justice in Washington. Manuel Balce Ceneta | AP WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has functioned for nearly two years as an extension of the White House, unchecked by a Republican-controlled Congress as it pursued investigations into President Donald Trump's enemies, fired waves of career employees and defended administration stances that judges across the country repeatedly deemed legally dubious.Now, sweeping Democratic gains in Congress have shifted the balance of power in Washington, teeing up an onslaught of expected investigations into those actions and others as well as scrutiny from the majority party that the current Justice Department had until now managed to skirt.The department has, at least publicly, appeared unbowed by the altered landscape.Attorney General Todd Blanche says the department will…

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