On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, as the country's Attorney General by a narrow 50-49 vote. Blanche had been serving as the acting top US law enforcement officer following the dismissal of another Trump loyalist, Pam Bondi.

Blanche represented Trump in multiple criminal trials before joining the government. His confirmation marks the conclusion of a contentious cabinet battle during Trump's second presidency. Senate Republicans, who hold a slim majority, supported Blanche despite Democratic concerns about the politicization of the Department of Justice.

Democrats opposed Blanche from the outset, accusing Trump of transforming the Justice Department into a political tool. Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated, "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 key point of contention was a proposed $1.8 billion fund aimed at what Trump describes as victims of politicized prosecutions, likely including those involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Blanche was also part of Trump's legal defense team in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith concerning alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Both cases were dropped after Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Sources