The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, delivering a major victory for President Donald Trump and placing his former personal lawyer at the head of the nation’s Justice Department.
The decision followed weeks of uncertainty and a divided Republican caucus. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote in Blanche’s favor, while Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposed him. Every Democrat rejected the nomination.
At a glance:
- Blanche left a lucrative legal partnership to represent Trump in 2023.
- Republican concerns focused on a proposed $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund and the scope of an IRS deal.
- Blanche secured written assurances that the fund would not move forward, though some experts said the commitments were not ironclad.
- He has served as both deputy attorney general and acting attorney general while the nomination was pending.
Why the nomination was delayed
Blanche’s confirmation was held up by Republican objections to a Justice Department agreement involving a $1.8bn so-called anti-weaponization fund and tax immunity for the president, his sons and their businesses. Murkowski said the fund appeared to be off the table only because the nomination was pending and the Senate still had leverage.
Texas Senator John Cornyn and North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis pressed Blanche to confirm in writing that the fund was not moving forward and to clarify the IRS agreement. Both ultimately supported him, helping the nomination clear the Senate judiciary committee before the full Senate vote.
A politically contested Justice Department
Blanche has been central to Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government and use the Justice Department against political opponents, according to the account. During his tenure, the department indicted former FBI director James Comey twice and New York attorney general Letitia James, while also pursuing cases involving the Southern Poverty Law Center and Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly.
His leadership has also drawn criticism over the rollout of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Information that should have been withheld was left unredacted, while other material was redacted unnecessarily. Blanche initially refused to meet Epstein victims personally, later agreed to do so, and survivors said the meeting provided few answers.
What senators said
Cassidy said the choice was not between perfection and Blanche, but between Blanche and another acting attorney general who might not run the department effectively under Trump. He described Blanche as capable while acknowledging that he was not perfect.
Collins said the Justice Department had become increasingly political and that Blanche’s actions had further weakened its independence. Murkowski likewise cited the department’s proposed fund in explaining her opposition. Blanche, who said in April that he had not sought the job, has said working for Trump was the greatest honor of his lifetime.
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