Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, narrowly approving the nomination in a 50-49 vote. Blanche, who previously served as President Trump's defense lawyer, now leads the Justice Department.

The confirmation faced significant opposition. All Senate Democrats, along with Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against Blanche's nomination. His path cleared when Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support on Friday, August 7th.

During his June confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche addressed concerns about the Justice Department's creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, designed to provide payouts to individuals who alleged they were wronged by the federal government. Blanche stated the fund was "dead" and confirmed the department was "not moving forward" with the program following strong pushback from lawmakers.

Blanche expressed gratitude after the vote, posting on social media that 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 Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a criminal case in New York state court related to a $130,000 "hush money" payment made before the 2016 election, and two federal cases brought by former special counsel Jack Smith. These federal cases involve allegations of efforts to subvert the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election and mishandling of sensitive government documents.

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

Sources