The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the next attorney general of the United States in a razor-thin 50-49 vote early Saturday morning, cementing President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney atop the Justice Department after weeks of dramatic deliberation.
The vote capped a bruising confirmation fight that exposed deep bipartisan concerns about installing Trump’s close ally at the helm of a department the president has sought to bend to his political will. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska crossed party lines to join every Democrat in voting no.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year, delivered the decisive 50th vote after announcing his support Friday morning. “This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” Cassidy said.
Blanche served as acting attorney general since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April, moving swiftly to accelerate investigations into the president’s perceived political enemies and unveiling a controversial $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS that included a compensation fund for Trump allies and immunity from tax audits for the Trump family.
The so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund nearly torpedoed the nomination until Blanche formally rescinded it in writing under pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The deal unlocked a Judiciary Committee vote earlier this week, clearing the way for the full Senate floor vote.
Democrats argued the confirmation was a grave mistake. Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin warned colleagues not to be on “the wrong side” of history. “If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is clearly dedicated to ending corruption, even at the highest level of our government, it is right now,” Durbin said.
Blanche rose to public prominence as lead defense attorney on Trump’s criminal cases, including the New York hush money trial and the two federal prosecutions brought by the Biden-era Justice Department. His supporters argue that courtroom experience gives him unique insight into the department he now leads permanently.
His confirmation makes Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House. With a permanent Senate-confirmed leader in place, the department is expected to pursue an aggressive agenda targeting what the administration describes as political weaponization of law enforcement institutions.
Sources: AP News Las Vegas Sun Courthouse News
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