President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been confirmed as the US attorney general, the nation's top law enforcement official, following a narrow 50-49 Senate vote on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The confirmation concluded a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration, with Blanche having served as acting attorney general since April.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote in favor of Blanche, stating he believed Blanche was the best option the president would put forward. This decision was closely watched in Washington due to longstanding tensions between Cassidy and Trump. All Democrats opposed Blanche's nomination.

Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against the confirmation, citing concerns over Blanche's handling of several issues. These included the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his role in establishing a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund intended to compensate individuals alleging government persecution. Critics, including Murkowski, feared the fund might benefit those prosecuted for participating in the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress.

Collins also expressed reservations about Blanche's involvement in settling Trump's $10 billion lawsuit with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but ultimately trusted him to provide the president with candid legal advice.

During Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict the former president over the January 6 Capitol riot.

Quotes from the confirmation process highlighted hopes that Blanche would "check the worst impulses of this administration" and have "greater leverage to push for things that should be pushed for."

Sources