Senate confirms Todd Blanche as US attorney general in narrow 50-49 vote
The former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump takes the helm of the Justice Department following a contentious confirmation process that ended a prolonged standoff between the White House and Senate Republicans.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed as the US attorney general following a 50-49 vote in the Senate, securing the nation’s top law enforcement position after a prolonged standoff between the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote in favour, ending weeks of uncertainty that had left Blanche serving as acting attorney general since April.
The confirmation vote was sharply divided, with all Democratic senators opposing Blanche’s nomination. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski from Maine, also voted against him, citing significant concerns regarding the politicisation of the Justice Department. Their dissent highlighted specific grievances over Blanche’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his role in establishing a controversial $1.8 billion compensation fund.
Senator Cassidy, who represents Louisiana, stated that he viewed Blanche as the best option the president could put forward. He acknowledged that while President Trump remains the ultimate decider on the department’s direction, Senate confirmation would provide Blanche with greater leverage to advocate for policy priorities. Cassidy emphasised that his vote was a decision regarding Blanche’s specific qualifications rather than a referendum on the president.
The opposition from Collins and Murkowski centred on Blanche’s past actions, including his role in settling a $10 billion lawsuit between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Murkowski explicitly cited a lack of confidence in Blanche’s ability to check the administration’s impulses, while Collins raised concerns about the release of Epstein documents. Both senators had previously withheld support until assurances were made regarding the department’s independence.
During confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to withdraw the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund after facing blowback from Republican senators who feared it might benefit individuals prosecuted for their role in the January 6 attack on Congress. However, it remains unclear whether this commitment is legally binding or if the president could later persuade Blanche to revive a similar scheme under a different name. Blanche, who served as deputy attorney general before assuming the interim role following the dismissal of Pam Bondi, now leads the department with a narrow mandate.
