Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, appointing President Trump's former defense lawyer as the nation's top law enforcement official. The confirmation vote was narrowly decided at 50-49.

Blanche's nomination faced resistance from Democrats and some Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted against him. His path to confirmation cleared on Friday when Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support.

During his June confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche addressed concerns about the Justice Department's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, created to compensate individuals who alleged wrongful treatment by the federal government. Blanche stated the fund was "dead" and that the department was "not moving forward" with the program following strong opposition from lawmakers.

In a social media post after the vote, Blanche expressed he was "deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice."

The confirmation comes as President Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a New York state criminal case related to a $130,000 "hush money" payment made before the 2016 election, and two federal cases brought by former special counsel Jack Smith concerning alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential power transfer and mishandling of sensitive government documents.

Supporters hailed Blanche's confirmation as "a huge win for President Trump and our country," emphasizing his "unwavering commitment to law and order," while critics pointed to "several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence."

Sources