On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer, will now lead the Department of Justice with full authority after having acted in the role for several weeks.

The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 in favor of Blanche's confirmation. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote, supporting Blanche despite opposition from two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Every Democrat voted against the nomination.

Blanche's confirmation followed a contentious process marked by bipartisan concerns about his independence from the White House. Critics highlighted the Department of Justice's creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and a settlement granting tax immunity to Trump, his sons, and his businesses. Blanche publicly promised to abandon the controversial fund and limit the tax immunity provisions.

Senator Cassidy acknowledged Blanche's imperfections but argued that he was the better choice to effectively run the department under President Trump. "Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr Blanche," Cassidy said on the Senate floor. "It is between Mr Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump and who indeed may not be as good as Mr Blanche."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the confirmation, stating that Republicans had "handed Trump an excuse on a silver platter" to continue what he described as "pervasive, breathtaking misconduct."

Senator Collins, who is seeking re-election, expressed concerns about the politicization of the Department of Justice under Blanche's leadership. "While I believe Mr Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political," she said. "Mr Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."

During his tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, Blanche's department indicted former FBI director James Comey twice, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, cases some experts consider weak.

Blanche defended Trump against criminal charges in two federal cases brought by the Biden administration's Department of Justice, an experience he said gave him insight into what he views as the weaponization of the justice system against Trump.

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

The confirmation concludes one of the most divisive cabinet fights of Trump's second term, underscoring ongoing tensions over the Justice Department's independence and its role in political investigations.

Sources