Senate confirms Blanche as attorney general in 50-49 vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday in a 50-49 vote that reflected ongoing tensions over the Justice Department's independence. Blanche, who served as President Donald Trump's personal lawyer in multiple criminal cases, had been acting attorney general since April following the removal of Pam Bondi.

All Democrats opposed the nomination. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined them, citing issues with Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and a May agreement that created a proposed $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund while granting tax audit immunity to Trump, his sons, and their businesses. The fund, which critics described as a potential payout mechanism for individuals claiming political targeting, including some charged in the January 6 Capitol events, was later narrowed in writing after negotiations with holdout senators.

Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, along with Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, ultimately supported confirmation after receiving assurances that the fund would not proceed and that the tax immunity terms would be limited. Cassidy, who had expressed reservations about the department's direction, described the choice as one between Blanche and an alternative acting attorney general who might prove less effective. With Sen. Mitch McConnell absent due to health issues, Cassidy's vote proved decisive.

Blanche had led the department's daily operations as deputy attorney general before assuming the acting role. Supporters, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, pointed to his prior presentations and record as evidence of his fitness for the position. In a statement after the vote, Blanche said he was honored by the Senate's decision and committed to the department's public servants.

The confirmation ends weeks of uncertainty that included public scrutiny from Republican senators concerned about special arrangements tied to the president's legal matters. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, argued that placing Trump's former counsel in the role risked subordinating the department to personal interests rather than impartial enforcement. The narrow margin underscores the limits of Republican control in the chamber and the practical constraints on reshaping federal law enforcement priorities without broader consensus.

Blanche now holds the position on a permanent basis at a department with more than 100,000 employees. The outcome leaves open questions about how the agency will balance administration directives with longstanding norms of prosecutorial independence.