Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the United States 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 confirmation faced significant opposition. All Senate Democrats, along with Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against his nomination. 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 creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, designed to provide payouts to individuals alleging they were wronged by the federal government. Blanche stated the fund was "dead" and that the department was "not moving forward" with the program amid strong pushback from lawmakers.

Following the vote, Blanche expressed gratitude on social media, saying 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 criminal case in New York 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 of Blanche have described his confirmation as "a huge win for President Trump and our country," emphasizing his "unwavering commitment to law and order." Critics, however, have raised concerns about actions that they say have "further eroded the Department's independence."

Sources