WASHINGTON — On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, as the US attorney general. The Senate vote was narrowly decided at 50 to 49, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposition.

Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general prior to his confirmation. He represented Trump in several criminal trials before joining the Department of Justice. Blanche expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by President Trump, saying he was "deeply honoured by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice" and thanked the Senate for completing the confirmation process.

Democrats opposed Blanche's nomination from the outset, accusing Trump of politicising the Justice Department. Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasized that "The attorney general is supposed to be the people's lawyer."

A major point of contention during the confirmation was Blanche's attempt to establish a US$1.8 billion fund for what Trump describes as victims of politicised prosecutions. This fund likely includes individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, an event aimed at preventing Joe Biden's certification as president following the 2020 election.

Blanche was also part of Trump's legal defence team in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, concerning alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The confirmation highlights ongoing political divisions surrounding the Justice Department and its leadership under the Trump administration.

Sources

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