Washington — Early on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, narrowly approving the former defense lawyer for President Trump in a 50-49 vote. Blanche's confirmation installs him as the nation's top law enforcement official.

The vote saw Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska join all Democrats in opposing Blanche's nomination. His path to confirmation cleared on Friday when Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support.

Blanche faced significant opposition during his confirmation process, particularly over the Justice Department's creation of a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund intended to provide payouts to individuals alleging wrongful treatment by the federal government. During his June confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche stated that the fund was "dead" and that the department was "not moving forward" with the program amid strong pushback from lawmakers.

In a social media post following the vote, Blanche expressed gratitude, 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 former special counsel Jack Smith has brought two federal cases against Trump: one concerning alleged efforts to subvert the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election, and another related to the handling of sensitive government documents after Trump's first term. Trump is also facing a criminal case in New York state court tied to a $130,000 "hush money" payment made before the 2016 election.

Supporters of Blanche argue that "The American people will be well served by his unwavering commitment to law and order," while critics highlight "several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence."

Sources