US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been narrowly confirmed as the United States attorney general, the nation's top law enforcement official, following a 50-49 Senate vote on Saturday, August 8th, 2026. The confirmation concludes a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration, with Blanche having served as acting attorney general since April.

Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined all Democrats in opposing Blanche's nomination. The deciding vote was cast by Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican whose decision was closely watched in Washington due to his past acrimony with Trump. During Trump's second impeachment in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict the former president over the January 6th Capitol riot.

Concerns raised by some Republican senators included Blanche's handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his involvement in establishing Trump's $1.8 billion (£1.3 billion) "anti-weaponisation" fund. This fund was intended to compensate individuals alleging government persecution, but critics, including Murkowski, feared it might benefit those prosecuted for participating in the January 6th, 2021 attack on Congress. Blanche pledged to walk back the fund following pushback during his confirmation hearings.

Collins also expressed reservations about Blanche's role in settling Trump's $10 billion lawsuit with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but ultimately trusted him to provide the president with candid legal advice.

After the vote, Blanche stated he was "deeply honoured by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me." Supporters highlighted his potential to "check the worst impulses of this administration" and provide "greater leverage to push for things that should be pushed for."

This confirmation marks a significant moment in the Trump administration's legal and political landscape, reflecting ongoing divisions within the Republican Party.

Sources