On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, as the country's attorney general by a narrow 50-49 vote. Blanche had been serving as the acting top US law enforcement officer after Trump dismissed another loyalist, Pam Bondi.

Blanche represented Trump in several criminal trials before joining the government. His confirmation capped one of the most contentious cabinet battles of Trump's second presidency. Trump praised Blanche as a "star" who aligns with his approach of exerting direct control over government agencies.

Democrats opposed Blanche from the outset, accusing Trump of politicizing the Department of Justice. Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated on Tuesday, "The attorney general is supposed to be the people's lawyer. Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president's personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client – the president."

A major point of contention was Blanche's attempt to establish a $1.8 billion fund for what Trump calls victims of politicized prosecutions, likely including the January 6, 2021 Capitol rioters. Blanche was also part of Trump's legal defense in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith—alleging mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The Senate, narrowly controlled by Republicans, confirmed Blanche despite Democratic concerns about the Justice Department's independence.

Sources