On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate voted 50–49 to confirm Todd Blanche as the attorney general, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump. Blanche, who had been serving as acting attorney general, is now officially empowered to lead the Justice Department and advance the Trump administration's agenda.

The confirmation followed a divisive and closely contested hearing that revealed deep bipartisan concerns about Blanche's independence. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, opposed the nomination, citing actions by Blanche that they believe have eroded the department's independence. Murkowski expressed particular concern over a nearly $2 billion "anti-weaponization fund" proposed by the department, which she said could have rewarded January 6 protesters, and warned that the fund's suspension was only possible due to Senate leverage during the confirmation process.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in favor of Blanche, acknowledging that while Blanche is "not perfect," he was preferable to continuing with an acting attorney general who might not effectively run the department under President Trump. Cassidy also suggested Blanche's experience as Trump's former criminal defense lawyer could make him more effective at managing the president's demands.

During his tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, Blanche accelerated investigations into Trump's perceived political opponents and oversaw indictments against figures such as former FBI director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the Southern Poverty Law Center—cases that some experts view as lacking strong evidence.

Blanche has defended Trump against federal criminal charges brought by the Biden administration's Department of Justice, describing those prosecutions as examples of the weaponization of the criminal justice system against the former president.

On social media, Blanche expressed gratitude for the confirmation, saying he was "deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me" and thanked senators for their late-night work.

This confirmation makes Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump's return to the White House last year, during which Trump has expressed a desire to use the Justice Department to investigate his political enemies.

Sources