Todd Blanche is CONFIRMED as Trump’s new attorney general in a big win for the president despite Republican ‘no’ votes
Todd Blanche has been confirmed by the US Senate as the country's next attorney general, securing exactly the 50 votes needed after two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to vote against him. The narrow win is a significant victory for President Donald Trump, who has said he wants his Justice Department to pursue political prosecutions against opponents and act more assertively on behalf of allies. A third Republican defection would have sunk the nomination, given the continued absence of Senator Mitch McConnell, who is recovering from a fall.
Blanche's confirmation hearing had been contentious, with senators pressing him on the department's botched release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, his personal loyalty to Trump, and fears of politically motivated investigations. The biggest sticking points, however, were a broad tax audit settlement Trump reached with the IRS and a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" for those said to have suffered "lawfare" under previous administrations; wavering Republicans Thom Tillis and John Cornyn only backed Blanche after receiving written assurance the fund was dropped. Collins and Murkowski cited concerns about eroded departmental independence and the Epstein files, while Senator Bill Cassidy's decisive vote in favour secured the confirmation just before the Senate's August recess. Blanche, who had been serving as acting attorney general, succeeds Pam Bondi, who was dismissed in April.
- Todd Blanche confirmed as attorney general by 50-vote Senate majority.
- Two Republicans, Collins and Murkowski, voted against his confirmation.
- Concerns centred on Epstein files, IRS settlement and a disputed "lawfare" fund.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that a president is entitled to appoint an Attorney General who shares his priorities for enforcing federal law and reforming the Justice Department. They may see Blanche’s legal experience and the Senate’s confirmation, however narrow, as evidence that he meets the constitutional and professional threshold for the office. For them, a close vote does not diminish the need for a department head able to implement the elected administration’s agenda decisively.
The case against
Critics argue that the Attorney General’s exceptional power requires demonstrable independence from the president, particularly where politically sensitive investigations or disputes may arise. They may worry that a close confirmation and any prior professional or personal association with Trump could weaken public confidence that prosecutorial decisions will be made impartially. From this perspective, Republican opposition is significant because it suggests concerns about institutional safeguards rather than ordinary partisan disagreement.