U.S. President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been narrowly confirmed as attorney general, becoming the nation’s top law enforcement official after a lengthy Senate standoff over his nomination.
Blanche was confirmed in a 50-49 vote, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote in favor.
Blanche, who had served as acting attorney general since April, thanked Trump after the vote, saying he was “deeply honoured” by the president’s trust and confidence.
The confirmation followed concerns from some Republican senators about Blanche’s handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein related documents and his involvement in a proposed $1.8 billion anti weaponisation fund intended to compensate people who alleged they had been persecuted by the government.
Critics, including Murkowski, questioned whether the fund could benefit people prosecuted over their participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blanche later pledged to abandon the proposal following criticism during his confirmation hearings.
Murkowski said she lacked confidence that Blanche would be willing to restrain what she described as the “worst impulses” of the Trump administration, while also raising concerns about the politicisation of the Justice Department.
Collins also questioned Blanche’s role in the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, although she ultimately said she trusted him to provide the president with candid legal advice.
Cassidy’s vote was closely watched because of his long-running political tensions with Trump. During Trump’s second impeachment in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict the president over the Capitol riot. Trump later backed a primary challenger against Cassidy, contributing to his decision not to seek another Senate term.
Democrats strongly criticised Blanche’s confirmation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused him of advancing his career by enabling Trump and warned that his appointment could further politicise federal law enforcement.
Republican senators, however, defended Blanche’s qualifications. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley praised his patience, compassion and tenacity during the confirmation process and said there was no doubt he was qualified for the position.
Blanche previously served as Trump’s lead lawyer during the former president’s 2024 hush money trial before becoming deputy attorney general. He assumed the acting attorney general role in April after Pam Bondi left the position.
His confirmation gives the Trump administration a permanent attorney general as the Justice Department faces major political and legal challenges, including questions over the independence of federal law enforcement and the department’s handling of high profile investigations.
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