Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as US Attorney General 

The US Senate on Saturday confirmed President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, ending a bruising standoff over his nomination after several Republican senators raised concerns about his independence and actions at the Justice Department.

Blanche secured the post with the last-minute backing of Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, while Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in opposing him.

Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April, had faced unusually strong resistance from members of his own party over his handling of issues including a proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, an order shielding Trump and his children from certain government investigations, and the Justice Department’s pursuit of Democratic lawmakers.

Cassidy said on Friday that he viewed Blanche as the better option for running the department under Trump, despite serious reservations about some of his decisions.

“The choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche; it is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general, who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said.

The anti-weaponization fund became a central obstacle to Blanche’s confirmation. The $1.776 billion fund emerged from an agreement to settle Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and was expected to compensate people who alleged government persecution, including some defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, US media reported.

Blanche formally rescinded the fund earlier this week after Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina threatened to oppose his nomination unless he put in writing that it was “not moving forward. Period.”

Cassidy nevertheless criticized Blanche’s handling of the matter.

“Mr. Blanche showed poor judgment in approving the anti-weaponization slush fund and exempting the president from IRS audits. No American should be unfairly targeted by the law, but no American should be above the law,” he said.

Murkowski said she remained unconvinced that Blanche could act independently from Trump.

“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration. I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case,” she said.

She also warned that rescinding the fund might not permanently prevent it from being revived through litigation.

“I am also keenly aware that the Department’s nearly $2-billion dollar slush fund—which likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters—is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage. Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds,” Murkowski wrote.

Collins said Blanche was a capable lawyer but argued that the Justice Department had become increasingly politicized.

“Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation,” she said.

Democrats accused Blanche of placing Trump’s interests ahead of those of the Justice Department and the American public.

Senator Adam Schiff of California cited Blanche’s previous role as Trump’s criminal defense lawyer and questioned whether he could separate that role from his responsibilities as attorney general.

“The problem with confirming Todd Blanche is that he has never been able to shed his role as criminal defense lawyer for Donald Trump,” Schiff said. “He does not represent the American people now. He will never represent the American people. He will only do what’s best for Donald Trump.”

Democrats also criticized Blanche over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

“I am realistic that President Trump can be unrelenting on this, but this will be true no matter who the Attorney General is, and this is the rationale for having a Senate confirmed Attorney General with more leverage to push back,” Cassidy said.

Blanche’s confirmation also came amid a major shake-up at the Justice Department, including the departure, firing or demotion of numerous career officials involved in Jan. 6 cases and other investigations.

Justice Connection, a group of former Justice Department employees, said about 1,200 former employees had signed a letter urging the Senate to reject Blanche.

The group also said nearly 20,000 career employees had left the department, describing the loss of institutional knowledge as potentially lasting for a generation.

Blanche’s confirmation follows his earlier Senate approval as deputy attorney general, when he won support largely along party lines. His elevation to the top Justice Department post proved considerably more contentious. 

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