The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, elevating President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer to lead the Justice Department, a department with more than 100,000 employees.
Blanche was confirmed 50-49 in an early Saturday vote. All Democratic senators opposed his nomination, alongside Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general after Trump removed Pam Bondi from the position. His confirmation now gives the Justice Department a permanent leader closely aligned with the president.
Blanche’s confirmation was nearly derailed after Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana raised concerns about his judgment, particularly over Justice Department actions involving Trump and the administration’s handling of tax enforcement.
Cassidy ultimately backed Blanche after concluding that he was preferable to leaving the department under another acting attorney general.
“Mr. Blanche is not perfect,” Cassidy said, Blanche also secured the support of Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis after providing written assurances concerning the controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Controversial $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund
The fund emerged from a settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of the president’s tax returns. It was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been targeted or persecuted by the federal government.
Blanche initially told lawmakers that the fund would not proceed. However, Cornyn and Tillis demanded a written commitment before allowing his nomination to advance.
On August 2, Blanche provided a written statement declaring that the order establishing the fund had been rescinded and “shall have no force or effect.”
Trump, however, subsequently described the fund as potentially beneficial to his supporters, raising questions about whether the administration had permanently abandoned the initiative.
From Trump’s Personal Lawyer to Attorney General
Blanche’s appointment has drawn particular scrutiny because of his close relationship with Trump.
Trump hired Blanche in 2023 to defend him against criminal cases involving hush-money payments, classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
After Trump returned to the White House, he nominated Blanche to become deputy attorney general. He subsequently became acting attorney general.
Democrats have argued that Blanche has continued to operate more like Trump’s personal attorney than an independent head of the Justice Department.
Senator Alex Padilla of California said Blanche’s conduct raised concerns about whether he would serve the interests of the American public rather than the president personally.
