Senate confirms Blanche as attorney general in 50-49 vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning in a 50-49 vote that exposed fractures within the Republican conference. Blanche, who served as President Donald Trump's personal lawyer during several criminal cases, moves from acting attorney general to the permanent role after Pam Bondi was removed from the post in April.

Republicans hold a slim majority, and the outcome hinged on last-minute support from Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Cassidy had voiced reservations about Blanche's role in a Department of Justice settlement that created a nearly $1.8 billion fund for claimed victims of politicized prosecutions and granted IRS audit immunity to Trump, his sons, and related businesses. After meetings with Blanche and former Attorney General Bill Barr, Cassidy announced he would back the nomination, calling it a choice between Blanche and a potentially less effective acting official. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in opposition. Sen. Mitch McConnell was absent.

Blanche had addressed some Republican concerns by agreeing in writing to limit the scope of the IRS agreement and scrap the anti-weaponization payments. Critics had labeled the fund a potential slush fund that could benefit January 6 defendants. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had delayed the process over the same issues, ultimately supported confirmation after the written assurances.

Democrats argued throughout the confirmation hearings that placing Trump's former lawyer atop the Justice Department risked further erosion of institutional independence. Sen. Dick Durbin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer framed the nomination as an effort to turn the department into an extension of the White House. Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related document releases also drew bipartisan scrutiny from holdouts.

Blanche, who had already been directing day-to-day operations as deputy attorney general, issued a statement after the vote expressing gratitude to the Senate and to Trump for the appointment. He described the role as an honor and pledged to uphold the law. The narrow margin reflects ongoing resistance from some Republicans to any nominee viewed as too closely aligned with the president's priorities.

The confirmation ends weeks of uncertainty and gives the Justice Department its first Senate-approved leader since Bondi's departure. With the Senate heading into recess, the vote clears the way for Blanche to pursue the administration's law enforcement agenda without acting status limitations.