An order issued by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has left in place an existing immunity arrangement that prevents federal investigators from pursuing Donald Trump and members of his family. The decision matters because it preserves a significant legal protection for the president’s inner circle and is likely to intensify criticism of the Justice Department’s independence.

The arrangement reportedly stems from a prior agreement and restricts investigations rather than resolving allegations through a court process. Blanche’s order did not create a new immunity deal, but maintained the existing one, leaving its scope and the reasons for retaining it at the centre of political and legal debate.