Todd Blanche, who defended Donald Trump in criminal cases, confirmed as US attorney general
Blanche, the No. 2 official at DoJ who has served as acting attorney general since his predecessor, Pam Bondi, was fired in April, was confirmed after a bruising battle that centered on concerns about his ability and willingness to rein in Trump
Todd Blanche, a 52-year-old legal powerhouse, has been officially appointed as the United States Attorney General, effective immediately. This confirmation came down on the same day that former Deputy Attorney General Pam Bondi was dismissed, seemingly handing Blanche the reins of the department. The appointment was made despite a rocky road, with two Republican senators voting in favor of the confirmation - Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski - while others expressed concerns over Blanche's role in ameliorating Donald Trump's legal woes.
A major point of contention was a $1.8 billion fund established to compensate individuals Trump claims were unfairly targeted by the IRS, as well as a settlement that granted the former president and his associates immunity from tax audits. Despite these controversies, Blanche's appointment seems set in stone, with the Attorney General poised to lead the nation's law enforcement efforts.
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