Todd Blanche, Trump's ex-lawyer, confirmed as US attorney general

Former personal lawyer of President Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, has been confirmed as the United States Attorney General, the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the nation. He secured the required 50-49 vote in the Senate, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting against him. The pivotal vote was cast by Senator Bill Cassidy, who ultimately decided in favor of Blanche after believing he was the most suitable choice presented by the president.

The Senate's decision concludes a prolonged standoff between Republican senators and the Trump administration concerning Blanche, who has been serving as acting Attorney General since April. All Democrats opposed his nomination to lead the Justice Department. Some Republican senators raised concerns about Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his involvement in establishing Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, which critics feared would benefit those prosecuted for participation in the January 6 attack on Congress.

Blanche eventually pledged to modify the fund following criticism from Republican senators during his confirmation proceedings. The validity of this pledge remains uncertain, as it remains unclear whether Trump could later persuade Blanche to revive a similar scheme under a different name. These issues prompted Collins and Murkowski to withhold their support for Blanche, with Murkowski specifically citing her lack of confidence in Blanche's ability to "check the worst impulses of this administration."

Collins also expressed concerns over the politicization of the Justice Department, while Collins and Murkowski ultimately backed Blanche's nomination after Cassidy's vote. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump during his 2021 impeachment, acknowledged Trump's ultimate authority over the Justice Department, stating that Senate confirmation would grant Blanche greater influence in advocating for necessary changes.

Cassidy also mentioned his reluctance to hinder the department's efforts to combat violent crime. During Trump's second impeachment in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict Trump for the Capitol riot.