US President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been narrowly confirmed by the Senate as attorney general, ending a prolonged dispute between Republican lawmakers and the administration over his nomination to lead the Justice Department.
The confirmation vote took place overnight, with Blanche approved 50-49. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined all Democrats in opposing his appointment, leaving Bill Cassidy to cast the deciding ballot. Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April, when Pam Bondi was dismissed from the role.
Close Senate vote ends confirmation standoff
Blanche’s path to confirmation had been delayed since April by concerns within the Republican conference, as well as resistance from Democrats. The near-tie underscores the sensitivity of the attorney general post for the Trump administration, coming after months of heightened political and legal tension involving the nominee.
After the result, Blanche said he was “deeply honoured by the trust and confidence” Trump had placed in him.
Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said the decision was focused on Blanche and the circumstances of his nomination rather than a verdict on Trump. Speaking before the vote, he said that, “all considered,” he would support Blanche, adding that while Trump would ultimately set the direction of the Justice Department, Senate confirmation would give Blanche “greater leverage” to push for changes Cassidy believed were needed.
Cassidy’s vote carried additional significance given his tense political history with Trump. During Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict following the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot. After Trump returned to office, he backed a challenger against Cassidy and forced his retirement from the Louisiana Senate seat earlier this year.
Republicans’ concerns cited over documents and DOJ plans
Some Republican senators had questioned Blanche’s handling of the release of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein. They also raised concerns about his role in setting up Trump’s proposed “anti-weaponisation” fund, described as a plan to provide compensation to people who alleged government persecution.
Critics, including Murkowski, argued that the scheme could instead benefit individuals connected to prosecutions tied to the 6 January attack on Congress in 2021. During his confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to reverse course on the fund after pushback from Republican senators, but it remained unclear whether that commitment was legally binding or whether Trump could later seek to revive a similar mechanism under a different name.
Murkowski said she lacked confidence in Blanche to “check the worst impulses” of the administration, citing concerns about what she called the politicisation of the Justice Department.
Collins also raised objections related to Blanche’s involvement in settling Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Despite those reservations, Collins said she trusted Blanche to provide Trump with candid legal advice.
Democrats warn of governance risk; Republicans praise qualifications
Democratic leaders criticised the nomination regardless of the narrow margin. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was concerned Blanche’s appointment would serve as an “excuse” and argued it would help enable corruption. He said that, in his view, Blanche had continued Trump’s wrongdoing and that senators who voted to confirm him were “enablers” as well.
Most Republicans, however, moved quickly to celebrate the outcome. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley said Blanche demonstrated “extraordinary patience, compassion and tenacity” through the process, adding that there was no doubt the nominee was qualified.
Blanche had been deputy attorney general before taking on the interim leadership role in April after Bondi was fired. His confirmation on a 50-49 vote puts him in charge of the Justice Department at a time when the Senate remains sharply divided on how far the administration will push prosecutorial and legal strategies.
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9 August 2026
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