Todd Blanche Confirmed as Trump’s Attorney General in Narrow 50-49 Senate Vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as President Donald Trump’s attorney general early Saturday morning, narrowly approving the president’s former personal defense attorney in a 50-49 vote after weeks of uncertainty surrounding his nomination.

Blanche secured confirmation with the support of 50 Republican senators. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats present in voting against him, leaving the Trump administration with virtually no margin for additional GOP defections.

The decisive support came from Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who had previously expressed reservations about Blanche’s judgment and handling of several controversial Justice Department matters. Cassidy announced Friday that despite those concerns, he believed Blanche was ultimately the better choice to permanently lead the department.

Blanche’s nomination had faced resistance over a proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund connected to a settlement involving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS. Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina demanded assurances about the proposal before agreeing to support Blanche. The disputed directive was ultimately rescinded, helping clear a path for his confirmation.

The new attorney general also faced criticism over the Justice Department’s handling of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Collins cited concerns about both the Epstein matter and Blanche’s broader management of the department when explaining her opposition, while Murkowski similarly broke with the Republican majority.

Blanche, 51, had already been running the Justice Department as acting attorney general since April 2, when President Trump removed Pam Bondi. His confirmation now eliminates the temporary status and formally places him in charge of the department and its federal law enforcement operations.

Before entering the Trump administration, Blanche was one of the president’s most prominent defense attorneys. He represented Trump in the Manhattan criminal case as well as federal cases involving classified documents and the 2020 election before later joining the administration as deputy attorney general.

The confirmation also represents a political victory for President Trump after Blanche’s nomination appeared endangered by Republican concerns. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced him on a 12-10 party-line vote earlier this week, but the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell and opposition from Collins and Murkowski meant every remaining available Republican vote became crucial.

With the 50-49 vote complete, Blanche moves from acting attorney general to the permanent leader of the Justice Department. His confirmation gives President Trump his chosen replacement for Bondi and puts a longtime ally at the helm of one of the most powerful departments in the federal government.