The United States Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, as the new U.S. Attorney General after a narrowly divided vote.
Blanche was confirmed 50–49 in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, formally placing him in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice after he had been serving as acting attorney general.
The vote largely followed party lines, with Democrats opposing the nomination alongside Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The two Republicans had raised concerns about Blanche’s independence and his handling of sensitive matters involving the Trump administration.
Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal defence lawyer in several criminal and federal cases before joining the Justice Department. His close relationship with the President became a central issue during his confirmation process, with critics questioning whether he could independently oversee a department responsible for enforcing federal law.
His confirmation also followed controversy surrounding a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and a tax-related agreement involving Trump, his family and businesses. Republican senators who had threatened to oppose Blanche secured assurances that the proposed fund would not proceed and that protections relating to the tax matter would be limited.
Blanche now formally takes over leadership of the Justice Department and is expected to continue the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape federal law enforcement. His appointment has drawn significant scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans, who have stressed the importance of maintaining the department’s independence from the White House.
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