WASHINGTON — Todd Blanche, former personal lawyer to US President Donald Trump, was set for confirmation on Friday, August 7, 2026, as the US attorney general after Senate Republicans dismissed Democratic concerns over the politicization of the Department of Justice.

Blanche, who had been serving as acting attorney general, previously represented Trump in several criminal trials and was part of the legal defense team in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith. These cases involved allegations of mishandling classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Both cases were dropped following Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Despite opposition from Democrats, who accused Trump of turning the Justice Department into a political weapon, Blanche's confirmation appeared likely by a narrow margin. Two Republican senators initially opposed his confirmation, but Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support live on television, tipping the balance.

Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized Blanche's appointment, stating, "The attorney general is supposed to be the people's lawyer. Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president's personal lawyer."

Trump has been noted for seeking to bring independent government agencies under his direct control and has described Blanche positively in this context.

The confirmation follows a period of heightened political tension, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which was part of the broader context of challenges to the 2020 election certification.

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