On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, delivering a major win for former President Donald Trump. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney, will now lead the Department of Justice.

The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 in favor of Blanche, with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana casting the deciding vote. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against the nomination. Every Democrat opposed Blanche’s confirmation.

Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general prior to the vote, with his nomination delayed for weeks amid controversy. He faced criticism from some Republican senators over a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" created by the department and provisions granting tax immunity to Trump, his sons, and his businesses.

Senator Cassidy acknowledged Blanche's imperfections but argued the choice was between Blanche and another acting attorney general who might not manage the department effectively under 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.

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

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

Senator Collins, who is seeking re-election in Maine, expressed concerns about the politicization of the Department of Justice under Blanche. "While I believe Mr Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political," she said earlier this week. "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."

The confirmation concludes a contentious nomination process and places a close Trump ally at the helm of the nation's top law enforcement agency.

Sources